Video tributes: New Way to Spam

The latest junk e-mail strike that has been revealed suggests receivers to regard recent video testimonials of celebrities & requests them to furnish their email ID's, to infiltrate websites providing these testimonials, according to Security agency Sophos.

Among the list of celebs that have been under attack by spammers includes names like - Steve Irwin, the 9/11 casualty and famous Crocodile Hunter, Anna Nicole Smith. Spanmmers have been demanding receivers to tour Internet sites that promise to provide video testimonials to celebrities. These sites inquire about the email identifications of receivers desirous of seeing these videos. This specially seems secure given that they don't examine the confidentiality guidelines obtained by following the link at the tail end of the site.

The confidentiality rule is definitely very worrying. It lets the website operative to mail the user tailored advertising information via emails, dispatch emails that show under attack publicity matter & trade the private details furnished by the users to third party customers that consists of direct suppliers of advertising supplies & support.

Furthermore, the site asks visitors to suggest the names of five separate individuals requested to see the video testimonials through their emails. This lets spammers include more addresses to their emailing database comprising existing email addresses.

"The initial stage of defense is easy, don't purchase, don't attempt, and don't respond. However, if you can't endure, then be certain to peruse the fine print. The culprits in fact lie in the fine points. Be distrustful of requisites and preconditions which seem very open -as they perhaps are," said Paul Ducklin, chief of technology at Sophos.

Specialists advise users not to respond to these emails & not to tour the contacts furnished if they look shady. Besides spamming, these strikes can also be employed for Internet swindles and circulating malware. A person should write the address of the link in browser if desirous of touring the link furnished in the email. Users are also suggested to examine the confidentiality rule of the sites that inquire your private data. Eventually, suitable security system similar to anti-virus & anti-spam package should be employed for avoiding these types of strikes.

Related article: Video Latest Vector For Viruses

» SPAMfighter News - 9/23/2006