Spam Volume Increases with Father’s Day Coming Closer

According to Symantec Response team, volume of spam e-mails exploiting the fast approaching Father's Day (June 20, 2010), which is celebrated in 52 countries of the world, is rapidly increasing. Symantec has been witnessing this increase since the end of May 2010.

Vivian Ho, Symantec's Senior Security Response Head, wrote in a blog that Father's Day spam e-mails are nothing different from the Mother's Day spam, including product promotion, e-card services and hit-and-run. He also said that the firm has detected spammers registering a number of domains with different 'From' aliases as well as 'Subject lines' in a bid to evade spam filters in the hit-and-run spam. Such kind of spam e-mails, with the Father's Day headers, can potentially grab readers' attention, as per the news published by infosecurity-magazine.com on June 17, 2010.

According to the security firm, subject lines which are being commonly abused by spammers include: "Personalized Gifts for Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers and Sons", "Memorable Fathers Day Gifts", "Personalized Gifts Just for Dads", "Gifts for All the Dads in Your Life", etc.

Similarly, some of the headers observed in spam e-mails by the security firm include: "Gifts by You for Dad" <Details Removed>, "Gifts for Dad by You" <Details Removed>, "Gift Ideas for Fathers Day" <Details Removed>, "Create a Gift for Dad" <Details Removed>, etc.

Commenting on these spam messages, Ho said that unfortunately spammers always remember to distribute holiday spam, though some ongoing international events also attract their attention, like Shanghai World Expo and FIFA World Cup.

Considering the maliciousness associated with these e-mails, Symantec advised Internet users to follow some simple security tips, such as delete spam e-mails entering their inboxes, never purchase products or services promoted in spam e-mails, etc.

Most importantly, users are advised to make sure that their operating system is updated with the latest security patches. They should also employ a total security solution to prevent any sort of infection from spam e-mails.

Related article: Spam Scam Bags a Scottish Connection

» SPAMfighter News - 6/18/2010