Spam's Next Target: IM

Iria · Aug 6, 2006, 10:52 PM

Source: Internet Week
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As improved filtering technology blocks more and more email spam, some hackers are turning to instant messaging as another way to send their nasty correspondence. Corporate networks can be vulnerable to an attack through an instant messaging system because employees typically use IM clients from AOL, Google or Yahoo that have few if any security measures to protect against spam or malware.

IM spam "potentially could be even worse" than email spam, says Michael Osterman, president of Osterman Research Inc.

YAYitsAndrew · Aug 7, 2006, 01:02 AM

Spam already targets IM. The AOL and ICQ networks are infested. Not only with voice spam from AOL itself, but the protocol itself lends nicely to automating brute force spam attacks.

I don't get any spam with yahoo messenger, possibly because I've only been on it for about 6 months. They do have a "report spam/abuse" link at the top though. Hopefully they've got some sort of trainable algorithm on the other end.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 7, 2006, 01:25 AM

not to menton th MSN nework it getting hit, now that thier linked with yahoo

Erroneus · Aug 7, 2006, 02:20 AM

Got alot of spam on icq, but is using spam plugin for Miranda which solves it.

Aug 6, 2006, 10:52 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Spam's Next Target: IM Source: Internet Week __________ As improved filtering technology blocks more and more email spam, some hackers are turning to instant messaging as another way to send their nasty correspondence. Corporate networks can be vulnerable to an attack through an instant messaging system because employees typically use IM clients from AOL, Google or Yahoo that have few if any security measures to protect against spam or malware. IM spam "potentially could be even worse" than email spam, says Michael Osterman, president of Osterman Research Inc.

Aug 7, 2006, 01:02 AM	#2
YAYitsAndrew Anti-Piracy Poster Boy Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,605 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	Spam already targets IM. The AOL and ICQ networks are infested. Not only with voice spam from AOL itself, but the protocol itself lends nicely to automating brute force spam attacks. I don't get any spam with yahoo messenger, possibly because I've only been on it for about 6 months. They do have a "report spam/abuse" link at the top though. Hopefully they've got some sort of trainable algorithm on the other end. __________________ "It is because the resistance to paying for copyrighted material, although often characterized as arising from a supposed technical burden or principled concern for the public interest, arises rather from exactly the same segment of the brain that is dominant in shoplifters." - Mark Helprin, Digital Barbarism In other words, it's never okay to steal even if you think you have a good reason! www.yayitsandrew.com

Aug 7, 2006, 01:25 AM	#3
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	not to menton th MSN nework it getting hit, now that thier linked with yahoo __________________

Aug 7, 2006, 02:20 AM	#4
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,343 Rep Power: 114 System Specs	Got alot of spam on icq, but is using spam plugin for Miranda which solves it. __________________