Who is the biggest spammer?

Who is truly the biggest spammer: the bad actors or those who don’t appear to be bad actors?
Who is truly the biggest spammer: the bad actors or those who don’t appear to be bad actors?
It is certainly nothing new that those labeling their spamming activity as ‘email marketing’ have no idea what real email marketing looks like, but that is not the point of this short article.

I have been closely observing that so-called ‘security companies’ are generating most of the junk email traffic. It is ironic that companies supposed to contribute to a safer cyberspace are actually creating a chaotic email environment, the same environment they are selling solutions to secure.

It is actually not funny at all. Almost 95% of my personal and business ‘junk’ email traffic is created by those selling anything and everything from AI security, XDR, next-gen this or that, zero trust, and cloud security. Meanwhile, 85% of my personal email activity is related to areas more exposed to spam: mainly online shopping, random websites where I register and leave my email, and various industries from clothing to supplements, electronics to transportation, lawn maintenance, and mechanic shops. All in all, these do not even generate 1/10 of the junk email traffic that the ‘security’ and IT industry generate.

By Kaveh Mofidi

While I enjoy working with electronics, computers, and the fields of information and cybersecurity, I believe our challenges as humans extend far beyond infosec—and even beyond technology itself. The real task, I would argue, is to discover solutions for unlimited clean energy, drinkable water, practical waste management and to address the root causes of hunger, war, and injustice on our beautiful little planet. Our primary goal—each of us—should be to keep Earth livable. That is the true challenge we face.