Project Honey Pot
Encyclopedia
Project Honey Pot is a web based
honeypot
network which uses software embedded in web sites to collect information about IP address
es used when harvesting
e-mail address
es for spam
or other similar purposes such as bulk mailing and e-mail fraud
. The project also solicits the donation of unused MX entries
from domain owners.
Recently, the Project began a number of new initiatives including a QuickLinks program that makes it easier for more people to participate, as well as a system to track comment spam. The Project has also launched a free, new service called http:BL which leverages the data to allow website administrators to keep malicious web robots off their sites.
In addition to collecting information which is made available on a 'top 25' list at periodic intervals, the project organizers also help various law enforcement agencies
combat private and commercial unsolicited
bulk mailing offenses and overall work to help reduce the amount of spam being sent and received on the Internet
. The information collected is also used in research and development of newer versions of the software to further improve the efforts of the group as a whole.
Project Honey Pot was founded and is managed by Unspam Technologies, Inc.. In addition to various law enforcement agencies the group affiliates with the Internet Law Group and ViaWest.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
honeypot
Honeypot (computing)
In computer terminology, a honeypot is a trap set to detect, deflect, or in some manner counteract attempts at unauthorized use of information systems...
network which uses software embedded in web sites to collect information about IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es used when harvesting
E-mail address harvesting
Email harvesting is the process of obtaining lists of email addresses using various methods for use in bulk email or other purposes usually grouped as spam.-Methods:...
e-mail address
E-mail address
An email address identifies an email box to which email messages are delivered. An example format of an email address is lewis@example.net which is read as lewis at example dot net...
es for spam
Spam (electronic)
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...
or other similar purposes such as bulk mailing and e-mail fraud
E-mail fraud
Email fraud is the intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual through email. Almost as soon as email became widely used, it began to be used as a means to defraud people. Email fraud can take the form of a "con game" or scam...
. The project also solicits the donation of unused MX entries
MX record
A mail exchanger record is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System that specifies a mail server responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a recipient's domain, and a preference value used to prioritize mail delivery if multiple mail servers are available...
from domain owners.
Recently, the Project began a number of new initiatives including a QuickLinks program that makes it easier for more people to participate, as well as a system to track comment spam. The Project has also launched a free, new service called http:BL which leverages the data to allow website administrators to keep malicious web robots off their sites.
In addition to collecting information which is made available on a 'top 25' list at periodic intervals, the project organizers also help various law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
combat private and commercial unsolicited
E-mail spam
Email spam, also known as junk email or unsolicited bulk email , is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. Definitions of spam usually include the aspects that email is unsolicited and sent in bulk. One subset of UBE is UCE...
bulk mailing offenses and overall work to help reduce the amount of spam being sent and received on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The information collected is also used in research and development of newer versions of the software to further improve the efforts of the group as a whole.
Project Honey Pot was founded and is managed by Unspam Technologies, Inc.. In addition to various law enforcement agencies the group affiliates with the Internet Law Group and ViaWest.
See also
- CAN-SPAM Act of 2003CAN-SPAM Act of 2003The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 , signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 16, 2003, establishes the United States' first national standards for the sending of commercial e-mail and requires the Federal Trade Commission to enforce its provisions...
- E-mail address harvestingE-mail address harvestingEmail harvesting is the process of obtaining lists of email addresses using various methods for use in bulk email or other purposes usually grouped as spam.-Methods:...
- HoneypotHoneypot (computing)In computer terminology, a honeypot is a trap set to detect, deflect, or in some manner counteract attempts at unauthorized use of information systems...
External links
- Official Unspam Technologies, Inc. web site
- "Turning the Tables on Spammers", Wired NewsWired NewsWired News is an online technology news website, formerly known as HotWired, that split off from Wired magazine when the magazine was purchased by Condé Nast Publishing in the 1990s. Wired News was owned by Lycos not long after the split, until Condé Nast purchased Wired News on July 11, 2006...
, accessed 17 September 2007 - "Project creates a sticky situation for spammers" Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, accessed 17 September 2007 - 15. December 2009, 1 Billion Spammers Served