Celebrity Names Used to Send Maximum Spam

Simon Perry, an independent security examiner, reports that more than 78,000 spam mails are still in his Gmail account even after the automatic removal of all the unwanted e-mails during the last three months from June to August 2008, as reported by digital lifestyles on September 3, 2008.

Perry says in parity with the viewpoint of other security examiners that though hardly any true humor is associated with spam mails, the security examiners and analysts are of the opinion that spam mailers are employing new tactics like humor to effectively bypass spam filters.

Security examiners and analysts said that by attaching humor to spam mails, the messages look legitimate and genuine that helps them to bypass the spam filters effortlessly, resulting in increased spam reaching users' inboxes, similar to the one that Perry reported.

Perry states in his study report that spammers' latest focus is on Paris Hilton whose name they are using as bait. These spammers are adding her name to the subject lines of their spam mails in anticipation that they would be opened and the users would be drawn towards the spam traps.

Perry also said that by attaching humor to the headline of spam mails, it appears that the spam mailers have arranged something for everyone that gives a positive effect that users would open the messages as they come across the spam mails.

The researcher cited some examples of such headlines that are enabling spammers to bypass spam filters. These include "Paris Hilton Sextape: A CIA Plot", The Day I Found Out Gary Glitter Is My Dad", and "McCain Choose Paris Hilton to be Running Man".

According to the security examiners, while a number of headlines used in the spam are amusing, others like the Gary Glitter one are relevant and related to the news; thus, creating interest among the general public. Furthermore, as the public wants to hear more about Paris Hilton, takes interest and clicks on the link given inside the spam mail, it gets trapped inside the spam inferno.

Related article: Celebrity Image Used For Spamming Once Again

» SPAMfighter News - 9/11/2008