Y2K advisory message

Computer users around the world are angry at Microsoft Corp for spamming them with one or more copies of a Y2K advisory message. Based on discussions in usenet newsgroups it appears that Microsoft may have purchased a 3rd-party mailing list for their email campaign rather than relying on their own registration database and this has further angered anti-spam activists. One poster to the nz.comp newsgroup said "I got about three copies of this to ONE account, now that sucks." Another complained "I too got this email and have never registered, directly emailed support or had any dealings with them so how the *** did they get my email address?" Several others who received the email also claim never to have registered their email addresses with Microsoft at any time. Microsoft_s spamming has also raised the ire of anti-spam advocates in the USA and there has been significant discussion in the news.admin.net-abuse.email newsgroup where others have complained that Microsoft_s bulk email was unsolicited and that they received the spam even though they don_t use Windows based software.