Postini Reports Sharp Rise in Phishing Attempts, Postini.com, 30 June 2005

“Postini announced that phishing attempts in June were once again on the rise and had increased sharply compared with the previous month. The number of phishing attempts, which had been decreasing over the past two months, reached its second highest level since Postini started tracking phishing rates. Only March saw a higher number of phishing attempts from email scam artists in 2005.”

Full Story at http://www.postini.com/news_events/pr/pr063005.php




Fake Microsoft Security Alert includes Trojan Patch, InfoWorld.com, 30 June 2005

“A new wave of spam that disguises itself as a Microsoft security bulletin contains a link to malicious software that gives attackers complete access to the infected machine, security researchers are reporting. The e-mail, which began circulating late Tuesday, identifies itself as Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039, and offers a link to what it claims is a patch against the Sober Zafi and Mytob worms.”

Full Story at http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/30/HNfakealert_1.html




'Timeshare Spammer' Set to Plead Guilty, Yahoo.com, 30 June 2005

“A man known as "The Timeshare Spammer" said Thursday he will plead guilty to one count of violating anti-spam laws, marking one of the first prosecutions using the federal statute. "The Timeshare Spammer" sent millions of unsolicited commercial e-mails using Atlanta-based EarthLink's network. EarthLink says the e-mails falsify "from" addresses, use deceptive subject lines, fail to identify the sender and fail to provide an electronic unsubscribe option, among other violations.”

Full Story at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050630/ap_on_hi_te/spammer_plea



Advertiser sues Google over click fraud, InfoWorld.com, 1 July 2005

“Google knows that click fraud is rampant in its pay-per-click advertising program and hasn't seriously attempted to prevent this practice of individuals clicking on ads with malicious intent, an advertiser has charged in a lawsuit filed against Google. In its lawsuit, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, Click Defense alleges that Google is aware that due to click fraud, the ads it sells are worth "significantly less" than what advertisers pay Google for them. Click Defense also accuses Google of not "adequately" warning customers about the existence of click fraud and of not "adequately" alerting them and refunding them when they become victims of this practice.”

Full Story at http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/07/01/HNadgoogle._1.html




Anti-spam success drives malware authors downmarket, The Register, 30 June 2005

“Crooks are turning to spyware scams because it's getting harder to make money from spam, according to a leading UK anti-virus expert. Two weeks ago a UK government agency issued an unprecedented security warning that British firms were being targeted in a series of specially crafted Trojan horse attacks, many reportedly originating from the Far East. The UK's National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) warned the goal of this cyber-blitz was the "covert gathering or transmitting of commercially or economically valuable information".”

Full Story at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06/30/digital_mafia_rountable/




IBM Reports Phishing Surge, eWeek.com, 30 June 2005

“The report found an increase in the percentage of e-mail messages that carry viruses, according to a statement. Phishing statistics were taken from e-mail processed by IBM partner MessageLabs Ltd., an e-mail security company. Phishing incidents, as measured by the amount of phishing e-mail, surged in May, after dropping off in recent months. MessageLabs collected 9,139,704 phishing e-mails in May, a 226 percent jump from April, topping the previous record of 7,724,659 phishing e-mails in April. The report has some good news: The growth in spam e-mail has leveled at 68.7 percent of inbound e-mail traffic, a number that has been stable over the last three months.”

Full Story at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1833528,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594




Parents Can Sign Up Kids to Not Get E-Mail, 1 July 2005

“Starting Friday, parents can sign up for what Michigan officials say is the nation's first registry aimed at keeping spammers from sending children inappropriate e-mail. The new law bans sending messages to children related to such things as pornography, illegal or prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, firearms or fireworks. Parents and schools will be able to register children's e-mail addresses.”

Full Story at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050701/ap_on_re_us/e_mail_registry