One of the reasons for Google’s success in almost all its business endeavors because they are one of the most intuitive service providers whether it is online search or Google value add features. Besides that, they have also earned the credibility of people over the 10 plus years. However, the report from Spamhaus shatters the credibility of Google. Spamhaus is a nonprofit organization, which keeps track of global spam operations. It has come up with a list of top 10 ISPs that allows spam in a number of ways. Interestingly, Google is one of the top three worst spam services. The list generated by Spamhaus is as follows:
1) Sistemnet.com.tr
2) Hostfresh.com
3) Google.com
4) Vsnlinternational.com
5) Gilat.net
6) Cnuninet.com
7) Uatelecom.co.ua
8) Sprint.net
9) Verizon.com
10) Simplenet.com
It is surprising to note that Google has one of the top places in this list because Google projects itself as one of the companies that is so anti-spam. According to Spamhaus, there are number of ways of being pro-spam. Some networks try to sell their spam services in an indirect way. Some service providers knowingly leave the loopholes for the spammers because of the expenses involved in creating a spam free network. While others do not know that, there are loopholes in their system.
Spamhaus notes that, “The majority of the world’s service providers succeed in keeping spammers off their networks and work to maintain a positive anti-spam reputation, but their work is undermined daily by the few networks [that], out of corporate greed or mismanagement, choose to be part of the problem”.
A website or an internet service can be promoting spam either by design, by leaving the loopholes open on account of budget reasons or due to sheer lack of competence. If we need to analyze Google’s position we will be able to immediately recognize that Google does not come under any of these categories. Google can thwart the spammers from its websites and network and it is seemingly continuing to increase its online security. It also admits the need for closing the loopholes in its network. There are rigid policies in place in Google’s system. Google also actively encourages community policing to curb the menace of the spammers.
In spite of all its efforts, spammers seem to take advantage of the system’s weaknesses and propagate spam. Google too is equally helpless like all the other service providers in spite of being the top internet service provider for the past 10 years or more. One of the vulnerable areas of Google that has been identified by Spamhaus is Google Docs. Spammers use this feature to hijack visitors to malicious sites. Google is already working hand in hand with Spamhaus in sealing the cracks and enhancing its online security. According to Google’s spokesperson’s comment in this regard, Google is actively engaged in curbing spam and it has already disabled the accounts of those who violate the spam policies.