Spammers Now Using Audio Files to Deliver Their Message Mail-Filters' Technology Stops Spammers' Latest Trick
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Mail-Filters.com, Inc., the global leader in OEM anti-spam solutions has detected a rise in new spam techniques within the past three (3) days, including the use of audio files. Spammers are sending email messages that contain an attached MP3 audio file that usually has a name like, 'llcoolj.mp3' indicating it is a song or an artist. When you click on the file it plays a message that this is an 'Investor Alert', and then promotes a company and stock symbol -- a classic 'pump and dump' scam. The use of audio demonstrates yet another method that spammers have deployed over the past 12 months, including the use of Microsoft Excel files, PDF files, and other image files, to deliver their message while avoiding many spam filters. In reference to the technique of using MP3 audio files, Ben Westbrook, CTO of Mail-Filters, stated, "While the current distribution of spam that is attaching MP3 files accounts for less than 3% of the total spam distribution, this new technique signals yet another volley by spammers to get their message through. This attack is significant, not only because of the new technique, but because the size of the MP3 file is 10 times larger than your average spam message, it can clog email servers and a company's bandwidth very quickly. The Mail-Filters technology combats this new technique in two different ways: through identification of the bot networks sending the spam messages, and by creating Bullet Signatures to catch the messages outright. While many competitive anti-spam products failed to catch the new threat, the Mail-Filters technology withstood the attack without any additional effort." Mail-Filters combines three proprietary weapons to catch both spam and phishing messages: the Bullet Signature Database created and maintained by both technology and human editors, the STAR Engine that detects spammer tricks, and the RETIRE System designed for detecting image-based spam as well as email-borne malware. Because the Bullet Signature Database is updated by the minute this approach allows the filter to catch new types of spam, including MP3 attachment spam, phishing, embedded content, HTML, and foreign language spam. The result is a consistent catch rate of more than 95% with less than 1 in 1,000,000 false positives. ABOUT MAIL-FILTERS(TM) Founded in 2001, Mail-Filters(TM) focuses on providing its technology through OEM partners. Recognized as the global leader in the OEM anti-spam market, the Mail-Filters(TM) technology is currently deployed with over 40,000 enterprise customers, filtering millions of mailboxes, in over 100 countries and supporting over 30 languages. Mail-FiltersTM processes billions of messages every day and is one of the only anti-spam companies to offer a guarantee on performance. Mail-Filters.com, Inc.(TM) is located in Redwood City, California. The company can be found on the Internet at http://www.mail-filters.com/ or reached in the USA at (650) 655-7700 and in the UK at 44 20 70234965. Trademarked company and product names are the property of their respective owners. Mail-Filters.com, Inc.(TM) 505 Seaport Court, Suite 102 Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 655-7700 John Murden VP Marketing Mail-Filters.com, Inc. (650) 655-7759 CONTACT: John Murden, VP Marketing of Mail-Filters.com, Inc., Web site: http://www.mail-filters.com/
1-650-655-7759,
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