The Register®

Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/26/well_kill_spam_in_two/

We'll kill spam in two years – Gates

Charging ahead

By John Leyden

Posted in Security, 26th January 2004 14:10 GMT

Free whitepaper – Driving Situational Awareness:

Bill Gates yesterday outlined a three-stage plan to eradicate spam within two years.

Microsoft's scheme calls for better filters to weed out spam messages and sender authentication via a form of challenge-response system. Secondly, Microsoft wants to see to a form of tar-pitting so that emails coming from unknown senders are slowed down to a point where bulk mail runs become impractical.

Lastly, and most promisingly as far as Gates is concerned, is a digital equivalent of stamps for email, to be paid out only if the recipient considers an email to be spam.

Of these ideas only the last offers a radical departure from schemes already on offer. Gates places huge faith in the power of the market to rid the world of junk mail, even offering a hostage to fortune.

"Two years from now, spam will be solved," Gates told delegates to a World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland last weekend, AP reports [1].

"In the long run, the monetary (method) will be dominant," Microsoft's chief software architect predicted.

Doubtless Microsoft will be looking for a slice from this lucrative new revenue stream, so we can see why the world's largest software company is so keen on the idea.

Previously Gates has emphasised [2] the important of user education, legislation and enforcement of anti-spam laws in tackling the spam menace. There was little mention of those points last weekend as Gates looked to technology in delivering a spam-free future.

Such heady predictions. It must be the mountain air.

In fairness, Gates conceded some of his previous predictions - such as predicting Microsoft would trump Google in Internet search - had fallen short of the mark.

Google has "kicked our butts", he said. ®

Related Stories

Microsoft aims to 'shift the tide' in war on spam [3]
Microsoft declares war on spam [4]
Microsoft takes 15 spammers to court [5]
Why spammers lurve the 'Microsoft support' worm [6]
Web giants to declare war on spam [7]
The conspiracy against our in-boxes [8]
Trust me, I'm a spam message! [9]
US anti-spam laws 'will legalise spam' [10]
UK Govt fouls up anti-spam plans, say experts [11]
MP unleashes brilliant anti-spam plan [12]
We hate Spam (email your friends) [13]

External Links

Microsoft's anti-spam project [14]