Recently the privacy of one of my E-mail addresses was breached, causing a sudden bloat over my mailbox for a day or two. It was an unpleasant experience, much thanks to the incompetency of one party and the lack of consideration of many others.
This unpleasant experience inspired me to highlight the importance of respecting the privacy of other E-mail users.
How It All Began
Recently I’ve participated in a locally activity called YouthSearch organized by YouthMalaysia, some of you dear readers would’ve noticed a colorful “Y” icon on the upper right side just a few weeks ago.
After the contest period ended, the main organizer sent an invitation E-mail to all participants. While it’s not wrong to send mass E-mail for a purpose, the organizers made a HUGE blunder – the E-mail was sent to all participants by having all E-mail addresses placed in the TO section instead of the BCC.
And as if that wasn’t stupid enough, the organizers sent 2 invitation E-mails and both E-mails had all recipient addresses placed in the TO section instead of the BCC!
Well, I’m not making this up. This mistake actually happened, see for yourself – an apology from the organizer……
LOL. Over-excited! Oh how un-professional…… 8)
Privacy Breached
E-mail privacy is important, it protects us E-mail users from SPAM.
Unfortunately in this case, by having all E-mails exposed in the TO section – SPAM was inevitable.
From that mistake alone I had over 70 spams in my E-mail account and I noticed the spam rate has increased.
The Unethical and The Inconsiderate
Well you might think that it’s a small matter of have your E-mail address leaked to the public. 🙁
Now let’s look at what WE the innocent had to face. Of course, I can’t show you the contents of these E-mail and neither will I be giving your their E-mail addresses, I will however highlight the type of nonsense that are constantly filling up the mailbox.
First up, we have SPAM E-mails from the all-so-desperate bloggers capitalizing the opportunity to introduce their blog.
Then we have SPAM E-mails from the all-so-desperate website owners who shamelessly capitalize this opportunity to promote their business.
Then of course we have SPAM E-mails from the people who have little to no common sense to just ignore the mistake, and neither do they have any form of consideration towards others in the list. As if the problem was not bad enough, they decided to click REPLY ALL. So yeah, 1 reply goes to everyone and adding to the spam. Instantly the E-mail became a form of chat. And for the record, most of their replies are not constructive – SPAM! 😐
Lastly, and the one I hate the most – the one that immediately place me in their Newsletter recipient list. 👿 My goodness, I didn’t even subscribe for it!
What Do We Learn Here?
Respect the E-mail address of others.
Such ridiculous mistake causes much inconvenience to others. It’s as if people don’t already have enough trouble with spam.
Practice common sense, even when it comes to using the Internet. Be considerate towards others.
So my dear readers, did you participate in the event and suffered the annoyance of E-mail spam as well? Share your thoughts.
My college is still doing that, putting about 70 student’s emails to the list. The best part is, only about 15 are my classmates. And for my college stuff, I use my personal email.
Complained to the college people, they say ok ok. It’s been 1 year and they are still doing it. I gave up.
Now I receive about 20 forwarded mails a day from these people. Mostly Chinese (from China), no offence, but they like forwarding these mails.
Nice write up. 😉
Respect the E-mail address of others.
There is a thing called Privacy Policy!
Apparently Youth Malaysia failed Privacy Policy Lessons…
Such ridiculous mistake causes much inconvenience to others. It’s as if people don’t already have enough trouble with spam.
Malaysia Boleh! Yarr?
Practice common sense, even when it comes to using the Internet. Be considerate towards others.
The problem with interaction in Cyberspace is that most mofos tend to be quite inconsiderate. -_-
So my dear readers, did you participate in the event and suffered the annoyance of E-mail spam as well?
Hell yeah I did! But damage is kinda minimal since I am using gmail. 😀
Share your thoughts.
Know what? I wonder what would happen if hongkiat did not kick off the reply all thingie in the first place.
There were two (2) emails from Youth Malaysia, hongkiat replied in the second one and everyone SPAMhappy mofo joined in.
I wonder why no one bothered to reply all to the first email …
(I realize at once that everyone’s email privacy is exposed when I received their first email -_-)
Now try and imagine what would happen if hongkiat did not “inform” everyone via the reply all button…
We would still get SPAMessages eventually?
What do you think?
Me thinks everyone should have the common sense not to click REPLY ALL.
I used Yahoo! Mail as you can see, while the damage is not as bad on my side either but one can’t deny that
1. It could be worse
2. I still had to clean up the mess in the box
3. There’s probably more SPAM to come.
There were only a handful of E-mails like Hongkiat’s that made sense, a REPLY ALL to tell others NOT TO. Unfortunately SPAMs came pouring even before Hongkiat’s highlight.
In my opinion, his highlight may have knocked some sense into a few but inconsiderate people would still ignore it. I believe you noticed a design studio and a even a club sent you some stuff.
The joke is that as if the first mistake wasn’t bad enough, the second E-mail from YouthMalaysia actually had even MORE people in the TO section.
Me thinks everyone should have the common sense not to click REPLY ALL.
Agree. I think most have such common sense. But more are just inconsiderate?
How come you are not using gmail? -_-
There were only a handful of E-mails like Hongkiat’s that made sense, a REPLY ALL to tell others NOT TO. Unfortunately SPAMs came pouring even before Hongkiat’s highlight.
I think it is best to remain silent.
Well, that is me though.
I’m a quiet mofo! 😀
Aye? SPAMessages rolled in before hongkiat’s reply all message ho?
Did not realize that haha.
In my opinion, his highlight may have knocked some sense into a few but inconsiderate people would still ignore it. I believe you noticed a design studio and a even a club sent you some stuff.
Yeah. Bloody mofos! I clicked “Report SPAM”!!!
The joke is that as if the first mistake wasn’t bad enough, the second E-mail from YouthMalaysia actually had even MORE people in the TO section.
OMPG!!!
LOL I did not realize that.
Thanks for sharing it.
Cheers! 😀
The funniest example of this that I’ve encountered is when Malaysiakini did this a few years ago. That provoked a firestorm of protests, because, well, not everyone wants everyone else to know that they read an opposition newspaper in Malaysia.
LOL. now that’s interesting! On the bright side is no one could exactly trace who you are based on E-mail alone.
cant blame them when most of the people in the company are mostly student like ages..mr CEO isnt too old himself as well.
i gotto thank them for the over exciting spam that im still getting today. =S
Inexperience is the word. Well, at least now you’re sure to receive some mail every day. 🙂
I’ve the most spams with my yahoo mail compared to my gmail and hotmail.
my old mail,in just few days my mailbox can get up to 190++ spams….hate it!!!!!!now im using new account and be little bit careful.
Does anyone else have any experience with this?
As a fan of your blog, I do love know more about this topic, could you contact me through PM?