Spammers are becoming more sophisticated in the way they present their messages to avoid spam filters
Spammers try to change their URLs faster than the anti-spam companies can react

Spam diet becoming more sophisticated

Clever spammers dodging filters and using scams to find email addresses

Matt Chapman

Spammers are becoming more sophisticated in the way they present their messages to avoid spam filters, and how they harvest email addresses, according to security specialists.

McAfee's study of spam in August showed that the links in emails used 72 per cent more website addresses per hour in an effort to stop domains being identified by spam filters and weeded out. 

Advertisement

"It's a cat and mouse game where spammers try to change their URLs faster than the anti-spam companies can react," said Guy Roberts, development manager at McAfee.

"If it takes traditional blacklists 15 to 20 minutes to block a site, then that's how fast the spammers need to change their URLs."

Roberts explained that, because it only costs $6 (£3.20) per domain registration, spammers could spend less than $100 for four hours of 'advertising'.

Meanwhile, Sophos has warned of a new trick spammers are using to harvest email addresses for their operations. 

The security company has witnessed a spammed email campaign from a fake research firm called 'Gemma' that poses as a study into chain letters.

"Under the pretence of 'research' spammers are trying to fool internet users into passing on dozens of email addresses with every message they forward," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

"At best this could result in spam being sent to all of your friends and colleagues, but at worst they could be put at risk of identity theft. Computer users should break the chain and not respond to messages such as this one."

The message asks users to forward on chain letters, "even the rude ones".

"This project is based over the next year and I need at least 500,000 forwards for this project to be a success, so please keep them coming, the more the better," it continues.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

Xperia X1

Video Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

First Looks Editor Ian Williams gets hands on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Poll: Summer smartphones

Poll: Summer smartphones

Which smartphone will you be taking to the beach this summer?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

old computer

Government honours veterans of Bletchley Park at last

Surviving veterans of the code-breaking facility to receive badge of...

Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

Review: Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

A rugged Windows Mobile device for mobile workers

BT

BT promises 1.5m fibre connections by summer 2010

Telco begins major rollout in 69 locations across the UK

Primary Navigation