Twitter Follows Smart Route to Block Spam

According to Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with the security firm Sophos, accounts of some Twitter users have been found posting messages without their consent. Apparently, these messages were the advertisements of gift cards for the sensational Victoria's Secret lingerie store. Cluley informed about this case in a blog post made on Sophos.com on October 17, 2009.

However, the Twitter accounts which are distributing these spam messages have no relation with the store, and it appears that most of them are probably not the regular customers of Victoria's Secret's skimpy outfits.

The messages emanating from compromised Twitter accounts read like - "Stop wasting your hard earned money at Victoria Secret when you get an get a $500 giftcard now!" And "Don't you hate wasting all your money at Victoria Secret? $500 Gift Card now just for voting!"

Ironically, if a user follows the link, he will be redirected to a site which has no sign of Victoria's Secret. The user will find himself on a webpage containing a video from a person describing himself as a 'crazy Internet multi-millionaire', trying to give tips on making fast money on the Internet.

Cluley also mentioned in the blog post that the users must immediately change their password if their Twitter account has been found sending spam like this. He also warns that users must not use dictionary passwords. Further, he suggests choosing complicated security questions, keeping the passwords and answers to these questions safe, and selecting different password for each account.

Meanwhile, it is evident from the aforementioned spam campaign that Twitter is being repeatedly exploited by hackers, and the security of this micro-blogging site continues to be vulnerable. Apparently, the target has grown alongside the increasing fame of the site. A system as simple and open as Twitter is exposed to exploitations.

As of now, Twitter is trying to take a smart route to block spam. It has placed blocks for the simple machine created spam. Twitter will block anyone, if an exactly same tweet is posted more than once. It, thereby, benefits the authentic users by providing them with tools to combat more destructive spammers. In fact, such a move taken by Twitter needs a good deal of appreciation.

» SPAMfighter News - 04-11-2009

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