Quechup Spam (Updated)
September 10, 2007 by Jenn Sierra
Filed under Uncategorized
Updated 09/10/07: Patrick Ruffini has more information on address book spam, and Eric Odum talks about this in this week’s episode of his TalkShoe podcast, Electronic Conservative.
Several days ago, I joined a social networking site called Quechup, because of an invitation I received from a trusted friend (who is still a trusted friend, by the way). As is common with social networking sites, I allowed them to check my e-mail address books for friends who were already members of Quechup, so I could find out who I know there, and start building a network there.
Today, I started receiving some strange e-mails, and after little bit of research, discovered that Quechup, without my permission, had e-mailed everyone in my address book an invitation on my behalf to join their site.
This is totally unacceptable, and a violation of privacy. I am in the process of cancelling my account with them, and letting them know my feelings on the matter.
Many FHK members are in my e-mail address book, and if you received one of these invitations, I apologize sincerely. I assure you I have no intention of spamming you all on behalf of any vendor…I don’t like spam, and I don’t send it out. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience.
Update: In the process of sending out mea culpa’s to my friends in my address book, I’m getting responses from others (including my friend that supposedly “invited” me to join this network) that the same thing had happened to them. If this has happened to you, please let us know by leaving a comment in this thread.
![[del.icio.us]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Fark]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/fark.png)
![[Google]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[Mixx]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/mixx.png)
![[MySpace]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[Newsvine]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/newsvine.png)
![[Propeller]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/propeller.png)
![[Reddit]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[Slashdot]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/slashdot.png)
![[Sphere]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/sphere.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Twitter]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
[...] Jenn Sierra is canceling her Quechup account as a result, and this is shaping up to be a massive P.R. headache for the company. Meanwhile, Rapleaf (whose founder I consider a friend) has apologized. Plaxo was a much earlier incarnation of this problem (remember those annoying “I’m keeping my address book up to date” emails?). It got so bad network admins would routinely block the site from their corporate networks. Now, Plaxo is seeking to reinvent itself in a much friendlier, Web 2.0 savvy service. Canadian tech reporter Mathew Ingram has a much more thorough review of this issue. [...]
[...] During this 30 minute show I talk a little about how webmasters and bloggers are spamming sites such as Digg, Stumble, and others. I also touch on a story posted by Jenn Sierra, where proof is provided that social networking sites are also spamming users. [...]