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Apple Support Document Unveils iMessage Spam Reporting Tool

Tuesday July 30, 2013 7:38 pm PDT by Husain Sumra
A new support document has emerged on Apple's website today, revealing a way for iMessage users to report unwanted messages, or spam, directly to Apple.
To report unwanted iMessage messages to Apple, please send an email with the following details to: imessage.spam@icloud.com

Include a screenshot of the message you have received.
Include the full email address or phone number you received the unwanted message from.
Include the date and time that you received the message.
In late March it was reported that a group of iOS developers had been hit with denial-of-service attacks via iMessage that saw them receiving a series of rapid-fire messages. Previously, it was not possible for users to take action against possible spam attacks. Now users can alert Apple to any possible problems directly.

imessage_ipad_mac_iphone
Similarly, users with iOS 7 wanting to fight potential spam will have the ability to block contacts in the Messages, Phone and FaceTime apps, but users with previous versions of iOS will not be able to use that feature.

[ 28 comments ]


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kimble3
79 months ago
Really?

I guess it's nice but is it just me or is this kind of a half-assed solution? Take a screenshot and send an email? Why not just put a button or menu entry in Messages to report it directly. It just seems overly complicated...
Rating: 18 Votes
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haruhiko
79 months ago
In the long term this should be incorporated into the Messages app. In the current form it's more like a punishment to the victim by requiring them to draft a whole e-mail containing all the details, the screenshot, date and time, etc. etc.

I don't know how did the spammer get my contact details but somehow they managed to send several spam messages to me asking me to download a Chinese iOS game.
Rating: 7 Votes
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JoshGlzBrk
79 months ago
This will be useful. I'm excited for the blocking abilities in iOS7 too.
Rating: 4 Votes
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HiRez
79 months ago

In the long term this should be incorporated into the Messages app. In the current form it's more like a punishment to the victim by requiring them to draft a whole e-mail containing all the details, the screenshot, date and time, etc. etc.

I don't know how did the spammer get my contact details but somehow they managed to send several spam messages to me asking me to download a Chinese iOS game.


I agree, I don't know why there isn't just a "Mark as spam" button in the application, just like in Mail.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
mac 2005
79 months ago

Don't post your iMessage address for the whole world to see in the first place?

You have to be pretty stupid to spam using an Apple device. :rolleyes:


And you have to be less than polite to throw the word "stupid" at people you've never met and people who may not share your knowledge. Before you roll your eyes at these folks, how about you help to educate them?
Rating: 2 Votes
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Sigspd
79 months ago
About time

Now, It is about time there was a way to report, but it should be included in the message app like maps having a way to report there is a problem.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Mike MA
79 months ago
Sending a Mail for notice is not exactly a dedicated reporting tool, is it?
Rating: 2 Votes
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iDuel
79 months ago
It's better than nothing, but there should just be a "Report Spam" button somewhere which automates the whole process.

Maybe Apple is working on such a system and is using the email method as a placeholder.
Rating: 2 Votes
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HiRez
79 months ago
Let's be honest, if we discovered Microsoft or Google asking users to use this method, we'd be shaking our heads and making fun of them right now.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Moonjumper
79 months ago
Is there a way to copy/paste the sender's contact, as needed for reporting? The normal process doesn't seem to work.

The process seems a lot more work than ignoring the spam. It is only going to work if it is easy, so that lots of people do it.
Rating: 1 Votes

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