New Spam Targets Subscribers of Microsoft Featured Offers

According to recent news from Microsoft and vununet, it is learnt that both the companies have raised their security measures due to a new spam e-mail circulating on the Internet.

Also, the subject of the spam e-mail is from Internet Explorer 7, with the e-mail's sender being directed at Microsoft admin.

Further, the reports reveal the message in the e-mail says that it is being sent to those who have subscribed to MSN Featured Offers. It then says that that Microsoft respects its subscribers' privacy; therefore, if the recipient does not like to receive e-mails relating to the MSN Featured Offers in future, then he is free to click on the "Unsubscribe" link given in the text of the spam.

Also, to make the e-mail appears legitimate, security experts said that some statements have been added in the message such as clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link provided in the message would not unsubscribe them. In other words, recipients of e-mails from unrelated advertisers who may appear via MSN Feature Offers wouldn't be de-linked from the offers made under the MSN Feature Offers.

And, for getting an increasing number of users to click on the link provided in the new spam mail, senders inform users that MSN wouldn't be responsible for any change made to the offers without notice. These changes could be related to content, goods and services advertised along with their prices and product availability. Thus, since such statements sound completely genuine, they simply don't give recipient time to ponder over the situation prior clicking on the link, say security experts.

Also, as soon as the link is clicked, it takes user onto a phony Web page where a 136-KB file called update.exe is downloaded. This executable subsequently contaminates the user's system and downloads malicious programs.

Security experts stated that in July 2008, the same 'Microsoft Feature Offers' spam trick was used in an attack of e-mails that attempted to install malicious program after being masked with nude pictures of actress Angelina Jolie.

Related article: New Zealand Releases Code To Reduce Spam

» SPAMfighter News - 8/28/2008