Image spam, which uses a graphic embedded in an email rather than regular text, has grown in popularity amongst spammers attempting to communicate their marketing messages to Internet users. Often image spam is used for promoting stock pump-and-dump scams or drugs to help with weight loss and sexual performance. In the latest widespread campaign seen by Sophos experts, image spammers are offering a bargain edition of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista.
The spam email claims that the recipient can save $319.05 by downloading Windows Vista today.
It is not clear whether acting upon the spam would furnish the computer user with a pirated edition of Windows Vista or simply steal their credit card details.
"This widespread spam campaign carries all the hallmarks of a typical image spam. The spammer has added random noise in the form of speckled pixels to make the graphic slightly different on each sending, and users are told to type in the name of the website rather than clicking on a link," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Approximately 30% of all spam is now using images to try and sneak past anti-spam filters. Computer users need to ensure that they have strong defenses in place or they will continue to be bombarded by nuisances like this."
"The growth of image spam is one of the security stories of the year. Internet users should make it their New Year's resolution to make 2007 the time they got wise to internet threats," continued Cluley. "It's worrying just how poorly educated people are about web and email threats. System administrators and security geeks know about informative websites like GetSafeOnline but the average man in the street hasn't got a clue."
There are no comments on this article yet. 
