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parusski -> RE: soojan the Spambot (5/27/2012 3:17:22 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: warspite1
Speaking of spambots and suchlike, I read an excellent book the other day. It was written by none other than the great Ambrose. In his book - When Was The First Phising Scam? (1974) cheapgold publishing co.
Ambrose believes that the first man in the US - and probably the world - convicted of being a phisher was one Mr Franklin Millhouse Wilkes of Boston Mass.
In the summer of 1836 Mr Wilkes, a carpenter by trade, decided to set up his own business. He would put his carpentry skills to good use by building and installing cheap kitchens. He used to work in the local pet store so knew how to price a bag of sawdust (which he then used to make the cabinets). His company, named wowkitchens, was ready for business - all he needed was customers.
The hardworking Wilkes went from door to door posting one page fliers through the doors of the local townsfolk. But Wilkes made one small error. So that he could identify potential customers he asked that when they returned the leaflet, that they include their name and address details.
Some of the Boston elders did not take kindly to being asked to provide personal information. They suspected that Wilkes was phishing for information. The mayor of Boston, Jeremiah Norton Antivirus, assembled a large mob and together, the angry townsfolk beat a path to poor Mr Wilkes' door.
Despite his protestations, Wilkes was found guilty and was hung in his own kitchen workshop on the 12th August 1836.
Warspite1, When Was The First Phising Scam? (1974), was required reading when I was earning my computer science degree. Even though everyone in that first class was a geek, it was astonishing how few had even heard of that landmark book. I thank you for your continuing efforts to educate the mass un-washed about the thousands of Ambrose books.
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