The SPAM posts that we are witnessing (the one with random alpha characters in both upper and lower case) are computer generated by what is called in some circles a netbot or spambot or some other term to indicate that it is a machine creating the post and not an actual person.

The principal objective is to be able to post a message that contains certain words and URLs, all in an effort to be 'hit' upon by a google search or any of the other principal search engines on the internet (yahoo, Ask.com, etc.). If the owner of a website, who charges for banner ads, or orther content can show that lots of people are visiting the site, then he/she can charge accordingly for the banner ads or content. By getting your site's name into hundereds, if not tens of thousands of Message Board posts through out the internet, then each time a google search is performed and the info contained in message(s) is found by the searches, then that is registered as a valid 'hit'!

On an other note, while it has been mentioned that SPAM posts should not be opened (as the resulting posting of info can cause the downloading of a virus) I have not seen this to be the case, nor have I seen competent wanings about not viewing the message. (If some one is certain that is is inaccurate, please let me know the source of the information, as I would like to learn more.)

Please note: I am only talking about viewing the message and NOT clicking on any of the contained links. That I know is a possible big PROBLEM!!!

Jim