ANN ARBOR ? Spam filter provider SpamStopsHere has detected a new spam tactic in which MP3 files are used to promote stocks.
In the first multi-media spam, spammers have begun attaching MP3 files
which are named after popular recording artists and songs. After a
recipient has opened the attachment, an electronically enhanced voice
delivers a message promoting a stock for a particular company. The message
is designed to encourage the recipient to invest in a particular company.
The spam perpetrators then sell their shares after the stock price has
risen briefly. This is typically known as a “pump and dump” scam.
The majority of anti-spam solutions on the market have difficulty
recognizing the actual content of e-mail attachments and spammers are
taking advantage of that. While SpamStopsHere relies on URL reputation and
other filtering methods to detect spam, it has also developed tools to
instantly detect any new type of spam and quickly block it. Its 24/7
support staff used these tools to successfully block MP3 spam campaigns
within two hours. SpamStopsHere was the first anti-spam provider, last
year, to successfully block the then new image spam.
“I believe that what we are seeing right now is just a test by spammers
to determine the effectiveness of MP3 spam,” said Ted Green, President of
SpamStopsHere. “I don’t believe that MP3 spam will be the wave of the
future. It is unlikely that people will fall for an MP3 spam more than once
or twice, whereas text and image spam is hard to ignore because it’s in the
body of the e-mail. I don’t think that MP3 spam on iPods is feasible, but
spammers certainly are looking to target the new Apple iPhone.”
To listen to an actual MP3 spam message, click on SpamStopsHere.Com
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