Spammers Preparing to Use More of AI

According to security experts, spammers are likely to use more of AI (Artificial Intelligence) techniques to deliver their junk e-mails in future.

The widespread spam in the form of images is only a small area of trouble as compared to the AI tactics, as per a report by Forrester Research that came in print in the last week of May 2007.

Spammers employ several methods to nip image-filtering tools in the bud. The most common ones are spam campaigns that are based on corrupt and stupefying text images, graphic images, and audio and video files.

Analysts at Forrester said that the wave of image spam could be brought to control only if the vendors of the technology and their clients stop using current heavy-filtering products. They should rather fight the problem at its roots. TechWorld published this on June 1, 2007.

Many websites & anti spam providers have been using the CAPTCHA techniques, which are tests in Internet applications that require users to enter characteristics on stupefying images. Just as these are designed to beat bots, so can spammers employ AI to make apparently unlimited changes on their junk e-mail messages to get past the advanced filtering appliances, the analysts explained in their company report.

Security vendors have created new filtering devices that recognize optical characters that help to curtail image spam from spreading. While image-spam is just one kind of AI hitch, spammers know of many more they are ready to use in days ahead. A race of arms has just begun, said Dr. Chenxi Wang, a co-author of the report. InfoWorld reported this on May 31, 2007.

Since the total spam volume keeps on rising, clients are noticing some additional spam messages creeping in per day. These are increasingly image spam. So long as the bad guys find a monetary drive in spamming especially in image spam, it would not be right to think that the battle against spam will come to an end. But, there is hope that spam would be reduced to a minor problem, said Adam Swidler, senior manager of solutions marketing at Postini. TechWorld reported this on June 1, 2007.

Related article: Spammers Continue their Campaigns Successfully

» SPAMfighter News - 6/13/2007