Con artists use swine flu panic to make a fast buck

by Steve Ragan - Apr 29 2009, 18:50

Swine Ffu, it’s all over the news as the virus sweeps across the globe. While that area of expertise is the realm of our science editor, Rich Bowden, here in the security section it has attracted our attention as well. Specifically, spammers are cashing in on the fear surrounding the virus and hitting the pavement running with a full assault on inboxes.

Within in the last 24 hours, the Spam box used by The Tech Herald has been assaulted by junk advertisements relating to the looming swine flu pandemic. Some of the subject titles are just outrageous, while others take a more news-themed approach, and some attempt to be clinical. In each case, the URL links they point to are all scam-related sites.

These sites sell things like herbal remedies, protection guides, and one e-mail even offers a swine flu protection kit. Without adding to the hype or simply reproducing the same list of Spam-related subject lines other sites are running, we’ll instead point you to a useful list.

This list, compiled by F-Secure, contains several hundred domains registered by scammers to sell their products and collect donations. The sad thing about this list is that it is comprised of domains registered just last weekend.

While each of these sites wants to sell something, there is another trend among criminals that they could also be used for -- spreading Malware to end users who are researching the swine flu and looking for more information.

As of now, no domain that has appeared in Spam-related e-mail, promising news or a cure for swine flu, is linking to malicious software. That's the good news for now, the bad news is that criminals use popular search terms to spread Malware, and right now 'swine flu' is about as popular as a keyword can get.

Ignore the Spam related to swine flu, the advice that every expert is offering is sound, and truthfully it’s about the only defense we do have. If you want more information and actual health-related information, visit the CDC by clicking here or the World Health Organization by clicking here.

Remember, the only thing these Spam e-mails really guarantee is that money will be drained from your account and, if you're (un)lucky, a shipment of dubious medicine that's likely harmful to your health.

The Tech Herald: Swine flu pandemic imminent as threat level increased to five

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