User:Vortex3427/Despamming

On Usenet, despammers were a group of longtime anti-spam volunteers who canceled spam messages and restored ("resurrected") unauthorized cancel messages. Despammers often employed automated programs called cancelbots and resurrector bots. While some despammers had their real names public, others chose to remain anonymous.

Definition
Despammers, also known as cancelers or anti-spam activists, were a group of longtime volunteers who searched for and canceled spam on Usenet. They were described by Ohm (1999) as active and "loose-knit". However, despammers operated according to a set of guidelines and conventions.

History
One of the earliest despammers was Cancelmoose, who operated anonymously. Cancelmoose created an alternative anti-spam method to cancels called NoCeM.

Bots
Despammers used automated programs called cancelbots, programs which identify certain patterns and send out cancel messages to offending posts, to aid them in their efforts. Lewis created Dave the Resurrector, a "resurrector bot"—a class of programs which restore and report improperly canceled posts.

Notable despammers

 * Cancelmoose, anonymous despammer


 * Dick Depew, birdwatcher and Usenet user


 * Richard E. Depew, bincanceller


 * Chris Lewis, Canadian security consultant and programmer