Zeno Swijtink
06-12-2008, 12:38 PM
FROM THE DESK OF DAVID POGUE
How to Block Cellphone Spam
By DAVID POGUE
Published: June 12, 2008
If I told you that today's e-column would change your life, would you mind that it's sort of short?
The story goes like this. A few weeks ago, in my blog (nytimes.com/pogue), I wrote this:
"OK, now I'm really, REALLY annoyed. Within a week, my wife and I have both started getting spam text messages on our Verizon cellphones. I know that this is nothing new, but it's new for us, and it's apparently getting worse.
"According to Wikipedia, this sleazy practice is described as 'mobile spamming, SMS spam or SpaSMS, but is most frequently referred to as m-spam.'
"It's actually far worse than regular e-mail spam, for three reasons.
First, you generally can't delete it without opening it first.
"Second, you have to pay for it. (And, of course, the senders pay nothing, since they can send text messages from a computer's e-mail program for nothing.)
"Third, there's no way to stop it. You can't install an anti-SMS spam program on your cellphone.
"If you're not feeling helpless and livid already, if you're not already storming your carrier and Congress, I can think of only one reason: you haven't been m-spammed yet. But your time will come."
Shortly thereafter, I heard from an AT&T representative who revealed the presence of an astonishing little-known cellular feature: you can block cellular spam.
cont. at: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/technology/personaltech/12pogue-email.html
How to Block Cellphone Spam
By DAVID POGUE
Published: June 12, 2008
If I told you that today's e-column would change your life, would you mind that it's sort of short?
The story goes like this. A few weeks ago, in my blog (nytimes.com/pogue), I wrote this:
"OK, now I'm really, REALLY annoyed. Within a week, my wife and I have both started getting spam text messages on our Verizon cellphones. I know that this is nothing new, but it's new for us, and it's apparently getting worse.
"According to Wikipedia, this sleazy practice is described as 'mobile spamming, SMS spam or SpaSMS, but is most frequently referred to as m-spam.'
"It's actually far worse than regular e-mail spam, for three reasons.
First, you generally can't delete it without opening it first.
"Second, you have to pay for it. (And, of course, the senders pay nothing, since they can send text messages from a computer's e-mail program for nothing.)
"Third, there's no way to stop it. You can't install an anti-SMS spam program on your cellphone.
"If you're not feeling helpless and livid already, if you're not already storming your carrier and Congress, I can think of only one reason: you haven't been m-spammed yet. But your time will come."
Shortly thereafter, I heard from an AT&T representative who revealed the presence of an astonishing little-known cellular feature: you can block cellular spam.
cont. at: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/technology/personaltech/12pogue-email.html