Exasperated victims are finding unusual ways of fighting back. Those unable to contact the junk-fax firms have been known to vent their frustrations on companies featured in the ads. Some, for instance, have tied up the fax machine of Toronto-based Value-Rite Business Products by repeatedly sending the same document, says marketing manager Jay DeGenova. Others have used up his toner by sending a solid-black fax 20 times.

Hyde's fellow congressmen asked the FBI to investigate Salon, hackers tried to shut down its Web site ( http://www.salonmagazine.com ), and the Web zine's editors faced death threats, bomb scares, waves of junk E-mail and black faxes.

But, as is almost always the case, the answer to the abuse of technology is more and better technology. Rather than retreating from those who would use the Internet against us, we have more than enough means at our disposal to filter unwanted solicitation, disseminate lists of offenders, or demand payment for reviewing their promotional materials.

And if all else fails, there's always the dreaded black fax.