- 10 open source companies to watch
- Mythbuster busts his own tale
- $208 million petascale computer gets green light
- Sony recalls 73,000 Vaio laptops
- Chrome and Firefox and add-ons
Newsletters | Podcasts | Chats | Opinions | RSS Feeds | This Week In Print | IT Careers | Community | Reports | Downloads | Slideshows | New Data Center
Partner Sites:App Performance | On Demand Security | Networking Solution | SOA | Value of WDS
You think you’re getting Fergie, but instead you get a bogus stock tip. Talk about bait and switch.
In the latest pump-and-dump stock-spam scam, spammers are attaching MP3 files to otherwise empty e-mail messages; no subject line, no text in the body of the message. The MP3 files are named after a well-known recording artist, such as Fergie, Carrie Underwood, even Elvis.
But the MP3 files are recordings of a monotone voice telling recipients to buy stock in a little-known company, giving the stock ticker symbol and directing them to read about the company in the news. With pump-and-dump stock spam, spammers blast messages persuading people to buy a penny stock, then once the stock price goes up the spammers sells their shares at a profit.
According to Sophos, which reported this blast today, the recorded voice is randomly altered so that antispam filters can’t detect it.
While acknowledging that the average Internet user isn’t likely to fall for this trick and buy stock in the company, Sophos says companies should consider blocking – or at least quarantining – all inbound messages that have MP3 file attachments.
Pump-and-dump stock spam, which has represented some of the largest spam blasts this year, continue to thrive. Sophos says such spam accounts for roughly 25% of all spam, up from 0.8% in January 2005.

Gartner summarizes its view on Application Delivery Controllers, evaluates strengths and weaknesses...
Vulnerability Management For DummiesDownload this concise book "Vulnerability Management for Dummies," to learn about the simple steps...
The ROI and TCO Benefits of Data Deduplication for Data Protection in the EnterpriseThis paper examines and quantifies the costs and benefits of backup with deduplication storage as...

Life on the edge of your WAN has changed dramatically. With the need to deliver advanced services,...
PoE Plus: Impact on the PoE MarketThe standard for Power over Ethernet (PoE), IEEE Std. 802.3af(tm)-2003, advanced networking,...
Harnessing the power of communications to increase workplace performanceDue to the convergence of IT and telecommunications technologies, the business workplace has been...

We have so many holes punched in our firewalls today that many industry insiders question the value...
The self-managed networkWe aren't there yet, but advances in network and systems management tools are making it possible to...
Partner Content
Brilliantly simple security and control solutions for email, web and endpoint
www.sophos.com
Stopping data leakage
Learn how to exploit your current security investment to control the information that flows into, through and out of your network.
Download the white paper.
Why detection rates aren't enough
Evaluating endpoint security products is a time-consuming and daunting task. Learn the six critical questions you need to ask prospective vendors to get the right endpoint solution.
Download the white paper.
Applications: taking back control
Employees installing unauthorized applications is a growing threat to business security and productivity. Cost-effectively reduce this threat by integrating control into your malware protection.
Learn more today.
Comment