Messaging spam heads for your PC - GoFuckYourself.com

DVTimes · 08-22-2004, 02:41 AM

As internet firms are doing all they can to combat junk e-mail, a new form of virtual irritation is emerging.

Instant messaging is quick and easy to use
Called "spim", it is similar in design to spam.

But instead of attacking your inbox, it works through instant messaging (IM) services.

It is thought that "spimmers" have developed the idea because of the attention-grabbing nature of IM, and the increasingly effective spam filters that specialist companies have developed.

Research firm the Radicati Group estimates that 582 billion instant messages were sent in 2003.

The US-based technology analysts expect the amount of spim sent to increase to 1.2 billion messages this year, up from 400 million in 2003.

Just talk

Most people use IM to talk quickly and informally to friends and colleagues.

So there are fears that some people may be taken in by the spim messages because they think they are being directed to certain websites by people they know.

In fact, the messages are generated automatically, in a very similar way to spam.

With instant messaging, if I wanted to send you a piece of pornography, I'd have to send it as an attachment for you to download and open

Alyn Hockey, Clearswift
Once the program is written and run, all the spimmer has to do is wait and see if anybody responds.

It is a very low maintenance method of sending out junk messages as the system is automated.

Even if a tiny fraction of people fall for the spim, it can be a very lucrative business.

However spim itself it not particularly dangerous on its own, according to Alyn Hockey, technical director at internet security firm Clearswift.

In an interview with Radio Five Live's Up All Night he played down the threat of spam via IM.

"It's not really as dangerous as spam," he said. "With spim, it tends to be more of an annoyance."

This, he says is because IM protects you from the immediacy of, for instance, a pornographic e-mail which could portray an offensive image immediately upon being opened.

"With instant messaging, if I wanted to send you a piece of pornography, I'd have to send it as an attachment for you to download and open."

This requirement to download any attachments offers a degree of protection. That is also why spim is not a credible threat when it comes to viruses either.

Simple advice

It is hoped that messaging services will act before spim spirals out of control.

"There are products being created to help control this," said Mr Hockey.

"The manufacturers will have improved the software to eradicate it before it really becomes an epidemic."

For now, people using IM should be wary and follow some simple advice.

"Don't accept connections from people you don't know, don't download attachments from people you don't know; and keep your anti-virus software and operating system up-to-date," said Mr Hockey.

The full interview can be heard in Talking Technology, on Monday 23 August on Radio Five Live at 2:30am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3581148.stm

Napolean · 08-22-2004, 03:00 AM

hasnt this been going on for years and years and years already?

woj · 08-22-2004, 04:32 AM

People have been doing that for years...

B40 · 08-22-2004, 04:35 AM

Oh shit...I better uninstall ICQ and MSN

aaron · 08-22-2004, 04:38 AM

lol "spim" (reinsert timeline pic)

Manowar · 08-22-2004, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by B40
Oh shit...I better uninstall ICQ and MSN

MSN has to have people add you before you can talk to them so i cant see them doing that well

Doctor Dre · 08-22-2004, 02:25 PM

Wow you are smart ... do you even use aim ?

chupachups · 08-22-2004, 02:31 PM

Must have been 2-3 years since I last received any "Spim"...?

08-22-2004, 02:41 AM	#1
DVTimes xxx Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 31,547	Messaging spam heads for your PC As internet firms are doing all they can to combat junk e-mail, a new form of virtual irritation is emerging. Instant messaging is quick and easy to use Called "spim", it is similar in design to spam. But instead of attacking your inbox, it works through instant messaging (IM) services. It is thought that "spimmers" have developed the idea because of the attention-grabbing nature of IM, and the increasingly effective spam filters that specialist companies have developed. Research firm the Radicati Group estimates that 582 billion instant messages were sent in 2003. The US-based technology analysts expect the amount of spim sent to increase to 1.2 billion messages this year, up from 400 million in 2003. Just talk Most people use IM to talk quickly and informally to friends and colleagues. So there are fears that some people may be taken in by the spim messages because they think they are being directed to certain websites by people they know. In fact, the messages are generated automatically, in a very similar way to spam. With instant messaging, if I wanted to send you a piece of pornography, I'd have to send it as an attachment for you to download and open Alyn Hockey, Clearswift Once the program is written and run, all the spimmer has to do is wait and see if anybody responds. It is a very low maintenance method of sending out junk messages as the system is automated. Even if a tiny fraction of people fall for the spim, it can be a very lucrative business. However spim itself it not particularly dangerous on its own, according to Alyn Hockey, technical director at internet security firm Clearswift. In an interview with Radio Five Live's Up All Night he played down the threat of spam via IM. "It's not really as dangerous as spam," he said. "With spim, it tends to be more of an annoyance." This, he says is because IM protects you from the immediacy of, for instance, a pornographic e-mail which could portray an offensive image immediately upon being opened. "With instant messaging, if I wanted to send you a piece of pornography, I'd have to send it as an attachment for you to download and open." This requirement to download any attachments offers a degree of protection. That is also why spim is not a credible threat when it comes to viruses either. Simple advice It is hoped that messaging services will act before spim spirals out of control. "There are products being created to help control this," said Mr Hockey. "The manufacturers will have improved the software to eradicate it before it really becomes an epidemic." For now, people using IM should be wary and follow some simple advice. "Don't accept connections from people you don't know, don't download attachments from people you don't know; and keep your anti-virus software and operating system up-to-date," said Mr Hockey. The full interview can be heard in Talking Technology, on Monday 23 August on Radio Five Live at 2:30am http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3581148.stm __________________ The Affiliate Program

08-22-2004, 03:00 AM	#2
Napolean Old school Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kettering, OH Posts: 4,327	hasnt this been going on for years and years and years already? __________________ Need a programmer? (Desktop/Web Applications) --- Skype: napoleande

08-22-2004, 04:32 AM	#3
woj <&(©¿©)&> Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 47,882	People have been doing that for years... __________________ Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000 Affiliate program tools: Hosted Galleries Manager Banner Manager Video Manager Wordpress Affiliate Plugin Pic/Movie of the Day Fansign Generator Zip Manager

08-22-2004, 04:35 AM	#4
B40 Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,020	Oh shit...I better uninstall ICQ and MSN __________________

08-22-2004, 04:38 AM	#5
aaron Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 4,452	lol "spim" (reinsert timeline pic)

08-22-2004, 02:31 PM	#8
chupachups Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sweden/Spain you sum bitch! Posts: 6,576	Must have been 2-3 years since I last received any "Spim"...?