What Is Spam?

Not to be confused with the processed meat product, spam is slang for any type of unwanted messaging that you receive via an electronic device. The most common type of spam is delivered through email, though as cell phones have become more prevalent, text messaging spam has grown as well. The most common form of email spam is simply the same unsolicited message emailed out to hundreds or thousands of people at the same time. Often times spam is an advertisement for a product or service the receivers of the message have no interest in receiving. Other times spam can be implanted with a virus and is actually aimed at stealing a receiver's information.

Live Science Staff
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