Their priorities were to first get server back up and running. In order to do this, they had to find and remove disruptive files hacker had placed on system. Their next step was to identify how access was gained, and close that doorway. Finally they will make a concerted effort to identify hacker. If, and when they do identify this person, they intend to prosecute them criminally, and sue them civilly for damages they caused.

Surprisingly many of Hackers are kids still in High School taking computer science classes. As an exercise, not approved by their teachers, they create viruses or hack into their friends computers just for fun, and prove that they can do it. Every once in awhile however, it backfires and they create something that doesn't work way they intended. This can quickly spread and have world-wide implications.

Other Hackers know exactly what they are doing and have a malevolent purpose. These people are sick. Their intention is to hurt others, which they do. These people should be prosecuted to full extent of law.

Hacking is something that must be stopped. eCommerce is growing everyday, and actions of these cultural misfits can cost millions in both money and lost time.

Spammers who send unsolicited ads to thousands by hour are also a major problem. While admittedly I have a high profile email address, and probably receive more than my share of spam, this can be similarly disruptive to operation of a business. There is no reason why I should have to sort through several hundred ads to find my email. This is disruption of service and spammers should be held liable.

Now there are two kinds of spam. At risk of offending someone, first is perceived spam. Some "yo-yo" either signs up for something, or requests information, and having a mental lapse, forgets they did. They then complain bitterly when they receive it.

Anyone that has a website, webpage or electronic newsletter and communicates using email, publishes articles or promotes their URL can be accused of being a spammer.

First, knowledge is first step to prevention. Unfortunately, to date there is no official or agreed upon definition of what constitutes spam.

The internet today is result of collaborative efforts of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with evolution of Internet architecture and smooth operation of Internet. These are guys that write guidelines (RFC) and standards to which everyone adheres to make internet function. They wrote Netiquette Guidelines (RFC1855). For more info, visit http://www.ietf.org/

The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (CAUCE) according to their website (http://www.cauce.org) was created by netizens to advocate for a legislative solution to problem of UCE (a/k/a "spam"). Unfortunately, they do not specifically define spam other than provide a list of characteristics of email sent by unreputable marketers promoting pyramid schemes, chain letters, etc.

>From my research, I have concluded that spam has been defined as junk email, unsolicited bulk email (UBE), unsolicited commercial email (UCE), unrequested email and more.

Here is a quick check list of things that would possibly be considered spam:

=>Sending advertisements, solicitations, or any type of mailing that was not requested (even if only sent to a single person)

=>Posting advertisements for your web site in news groups, bulletin boards, or any other public medium where such posts are not appropriate

=>Having other people do either of above.

Most Internet Service Providers and web hosting companies are anti-spam. They have to be because of severe consequences of being labeled tolerant of spam, and, particularly being listed on Realtime Blackhole List maintained by Mail Abuse Prevention System LLC (MAPS).