Spam ~ Unsolicited bulk advertising usually via email. Originally a name for mass postings to Usenet- newsgroups- advertising products or services regardless of their relevance to the newsgroup. (The name comes from a famous Monty Python sketch in which every conversation is interrupted every few- seconds by people shouting ‘spam spam spam’ at the top of their voices). Sending spam is illegal in most jurisdictions. A spam filter is a program designed to automatically remove spam from your email before you see it and is standard in any corporate email system.