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Monday Mar 27, 2006
Spyware for all
The Register is reporting today on a new cheap way for everyone to get involved in their own spyware scam. It seems that a Russian website is selling a piece of software, known as WebAttacker, for just $15.
According to the register -
The kits come in a script kiddie friendly form with code designed to make the task of infecting computers a breeze. All the buyers need do is send spam messages inviting potential marks to visit a compromised website.
Once you get them there you can then run code to try and install password stealing code and other virus nasties.
The more we talk about how the internet is used by everyone, how every home will have a computer, how we will all use internet banking; the more stories like this really worry me. We all remember those scams that still continue, where some con-artist convinces some poor bastard to give up their life savings by pretending to be the gas man, but this is going to be worse.
Unless something is serious done to prevent spam, which doesn't look likely, then the only option might be to educate people to never click on anything in an email. After all, right now, anyone can become a spyware spammer for less than a tenner, so it's hard to imagine this problem is going to get smaller.
It's all pretty depressing, after all brilliant services like our e-cards, use emails with links inside. If this situation gets worse and the spam gets more intelligent, then sending fun virals round could quickly become a thing of the past. And that will mean people like the creators of WebAttacker will have won, and we'll all have lost.
Posted by Jim Valentine ( 4:29 PM ) Link to this post