TheRegister has an interesting article that talks about a new method spammers are using to get new email accounts that they can use to SPAM people. The new method entails tricking the gullible into creating the new accounts for them by suggesting that it will aid Yahoo prevent automated systems from creating SPAM accounts. (The big webmail firms have all created systems that make it extremely difficult to automate the creation of email accounts in an attempt to reduce spamming.)
Social engineering is becoming the biggest trick in a malicious hacker/spammers book. social engineering involves tricking the user into doing something that hands control over to the malicious party. Such tactics have long been used in the spread of Viruses, Trojans, Spyware and other such nasties. The trend appears to be gathering momentum.
Don’t follow the instructions of anyone you meet, or are contacted by online, unless you have some sort of proof that they are the trusted party they want you to believe they are. (after all, you wouldn’t in real life would you?)
Franki
