Wednesday, 7 March 2007

Spam Can be Bad For Health, Sophos

Security firm, Sophos, has warned that computer users are putting their lives at risk if they purchase slimming pills marketed via Spam.

Last week, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) confirmed that a growing number of women are buying appetite-suppressing drugs over the Internet in an attempt to lose weight. Almost 60 per cent of all Spam sent across the Internet is in relation to medication and pills.

The sale of dietary supplements containing Ephedra is illegal in the US, but this does not stop spammers promoting it as a weight-loss aid, a Sophos representative said.

"There are two big dangers in buying slimming pills over the Internet. Firstly, you are buying drugs without medical advice, which may be inappropriate for your physical condition and could do you more harm than good. Secondly, you have no guarantee that what you are actually buying is the real medication. It could be that the spammers are increasing their margins by selling you bogus medications that you may have an unpleasant reaction to," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Spammers don't care about people's health, they only care about their profits. If you have a medical problem consult a doctor, not an Internet crook."

"Spammers clog up the net with unwanted messages, making life harder for all e-mail users and pushing goods onto the unwary," continued Cluley. "Weight-loss products are just one of many goods peddled by spammers, and many computer users faced by the growing mountain of Spam would like to see spammers sent to jail for a diet of bread-and-water."

Sophos recommends companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution, which can defend against the threats of Spam, spyware and viruses.