|
Microsoft is suing three perpetrators suspicious of using hotmail networks to endorse stocks. "Pump-and-dump email scams are a form of fraud where the criminals purchase stock in a company -- typically an inexpensive penny stock -- and then promote the equity in millions of unsolicited email messages." (Source: wininsider.com)
This quick and easy form of spamming is one of the more profitable styles at the present time. Those responsible for sending pump-and-dump emails gain monetary rewards, whereas Microsoft, on the other hand, is burdened with considerable costs. Research focusing on the pump-and-dump email technique has rendered this strategy successful. In terms of dynamics, this form of spam allows spammers to realize 5 percent returns in a single day. "Because these scams are so lucrative, they've attracted some of the most technically competent spammers to develop new techniques. The pump and dump schemes are basically driving spam research and development." (Source: pcworld.ca) Much of the research has focused around image spam email. This form of messaging deals with templates that infected PC's can use to create spam messages. The tainted emails are misleading since they look exactly like uncontaminated messages. Another strength of image spam is its intelligent creators who have developed various methods to confuse spam filters. "They've added colorful backgrounds, wavy text, and filled their messages with nonsense text to try to evade optical character recognition technologies." (Source: wininsider.com) Because spamming crimes are committed electronically, Microsoft is unable to determine the names of the alleged spammers. The lawsuits were filed as John Doe cases so that Microsoft could name the parties when they are revealed. Charges against the defendants deal with violations of Washington state consumer protection laws, and disobedience of the federal CAN-SPAM act. As a result of recent spamming innovations, it is easy to understand why Microsoft strives to protect itself through legal action. "Hotmail is heavily used and is viewed by the Web community as one of the most challenging spam environments right now." (Source: pcworld.ca)
-- Related newsletter articles:
2007/05/17 Microsoft's Latest Fiasco: Reader Response (microsoft)
2007/04/24 Microsoft to Offer Software to Developing Countries for $3 (microsoft)
2007/05/09 Microsoft Reportedly Seeks Yahoo! Purchase (microsoft)
2007/05/01 Microsoft Expands Security Initiative (microsoft)
2007/04/05 MS Critical Security Fix: Released Ahead of Schedule (microsoft)
2007/05/08 Retailers Drop Price of Microsoft's Zune, New Device to Come? (microsoft)
2007/04/27 Mozilla Challenges Microsoft Outlook with Thunderbird 2.0 (email)
2007/03/23 Microsoft offers Businesses Paid Incentive for Search (microsoft)
2007/03/16 Microsoft Pays Big Bucks to Acquire Tellme Networks (microsoft)
2007/05/25 Downgrading Vista to XP Difficult, says Tech Experts (microsoft)
2007/03/08 Woman Sues Yahoo for $20M over Email Message (email)
2007/03/15 Updated Visual Studio 2005 Gives Developers Power of Vista (microsoft)
2007/04/06 Microsoft to Purchase DoubleClick? (microsoft)
2007/03/15 Microsoft Criticizes Google's Stand on Copyright Issues (microsoft)
2007/05/09 Warning! New Trojan Identified by Symantec -- This One's Crafty! (microsoft)
2007/04/24 Microsoft Sued for Being Windows Vista Incapable (microsoft)
2007/04/26 Bill Gates, Americans Look to Asia for Next ... Bill Gates (microsoft)
-- Recent articles (from all channels): 2008/05/12 Today in History: for Monday, May 12, 2008
2008/05/12 [ShellX 20080512]: 'Remote Manager', and 'Cyber Bandwidth ...
2008/05/12 Video Gaming Trade Group Struggling
2008/05/12 T-Mobile Finally Joins 3G Phone Race
2008/05/12 Apple Slammed by Environment Watchdog
2008/05/09 [ShellX 20080509]: 'Advanced Run', and 'Diver Windows Manager'
2008/05/09 Texas Refuses Facebook Friend Request
2008/05/09 Photo-Enforcement Technology Replaces Officers On Patrol
2008/05/09 Cuban Government Says 'Ok Computer'
2008/05/09 Excel Can E-Mail Your Weekly Reports For You!
2008/05/08 [ShellX 20080508]: 'Shell Enhancer', and 'Lansweeper'
2008/05/08 Xobni: MS Outlook Social Networking Technology for your Inbox
2008/05/08 Music Companies Jump on GTA IV Bandwagon
2008/05/08 Fascinating: Memristor to replace Binary
2008/05/08 Adobe Hopes To Make Flash Master Of The (Mobile) Universe
2008/05/08 Spiffy Envelopes and Labels in MS Word
2008/05/07 [ShellX 20080507]: 'Winbin2iso', and 'Loop Typer'
2008/05/07 Yahoo Adds Security Warnings To Search Results
2008/05/07 Apple to Lose Money on iTunes Movie Releases
2008/05/07 Amazon.com takes New York Tax to Court
2008/05/07 Need Glasses for the Slide Sorter View in MS PowerPoint?
2008/05/07 After Winning The DVD Format War, Blu-Ray Sales Tank
2008/05/06 [ShellX 20080506]: 'Visual Basic 6.0 Portable', and 'Double-...
2008/05/06 Yahoo Outsources to Jajah
2008/05/06 New HP Circuit Could Change Technology Forever
2008/05/06 Movie Downloads To Match DVD Release Dates
2008/05/06 Microsoft Ends Yahoo Bid
2008/05/05 [ShellX 20080505]: 'Ie7 Pro', and 'Desktop Ok'
2008/05/05 The WB Network Hops Online
2008/05/05 Microsoft Slashes Price of Xbox 360 Overseas
2008/05/05 Google CEO Wants YouTube to Take More of Your Money
|
