Today in History: Celebrating the 40th birthday of spam email
The very first spam email was sent on 3 May 1978 to only 400 recipients. 40 years later and we're still being asked to help someone who's been scammed out of their money and 'needs your help'!
In the very, very early days of the Internet there was only the ARPAnet, a platform which unwillingly played host to the birth of one of the internet’s most hated creations – spam email.
On 3 May 1978, Gary Thuerk, a marketer for the Digital Equipment Corporation decided to send a promotional message to 400 of the 2 600 addresses listed on the ARPAnet.
His message was advertising information about open houses where people could check out computers if they would like to buy one.
Unknowingly, Thuerk’s message constituted the birth of spam email as we know it.
Since it was on the ARPAnet, that first spam email inspired a swift crackdown from the governing authorities and inspired much contemplation among the tiny community on the ‘Net at the time.
Here’s the message Thuerk sent out on this day (it was displayed and sent in capital letters back then, so in true spirit we’ll keep it exactly the way it was):
“DIGITAL WILL BE GIVING A PRODUCT PRESENTATION OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY; THE DECSYSTEM-2020, 2020T, 2060, AND 2060T. THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY OF COMPUTERS HAS EVOLVED FROM THE TENEX OPERATING SYSTEM AND THE DECSYSTEM-10 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE. BOTH THE DECSYSTEM-2060T AND 2020T OFFER FULL ARPANET SUPPORT UNDER THE TOPS-20 OPERATING SYSTEM.
THE DECSYSTEM-2060 IS AN UPWARD EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT DECSYSTEM 2040 AND 2050 FAMILY. THE DECSYSTEM-2020 IS A NEW LOW END MEMBER OF THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY AND FULLY SOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER
DECSYSTEM-20 MODELS.
WE INVITE YOU TO COME SEE THE 2020 AND HEAR ABOUT THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY AT THE TWO PRODUCT PRESENTATIONS WE WILL BE GIVING IN CALIFORNIA THIS MONTH. THE LOCATIONS WILL BE:
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978 – 2 PM
HYATT HOUSE (NEAR THE L.A. AIRPORT)
LOS ANGELES, CA
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978 – 2 PM
DUNFEY’S ROYAL COACH
SAN MATEO, CA
(4 MILES SOUTH OF S.F. AIRPORT AT BAYSHORE, RT 101 AND RT 92)
A 2020 WILL BE THERE FOR YOU TO VIEW. ALSO TERMINALS ON-LINE TO OTHER DECSYSTEM-20 SYSTEMS THROUGH THE ARPANET. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE NEAREST DEC OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXCITING DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY.”
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