Invasion of the spambots

Grok Headline matches for Invasion of the spambots

spambots get smarter

spambots get smarter 01/06/2004 01:03 PM

Since today started as a "spam kind of day"...

Something I noticed over the last few weeks is that I've started to receive spam that is way more targeted than before. In what sense?

Well, let's say this: I'm getting spam that not only knows my full name, but also my address. Okay, not my current address, but I've already gotten spam that explictly mentions both my New York address (from 5+ years ago) and my SF Bay address (from 2+ years ago). This is bad, not only they know my email address, but they also know where I live(d)! Yes, we know that with time and money you can get a lot of information on anyone, but this has to be done automatically and massively, or otherwise it wouldn't be a practical option for spammers.

Clearly, one way this could happen is if someone (say, buy.com) has been selling their customer information. Since I usually take care of buying online only when my privacy is more or less protected, this is unlikely, though certainly possible.

There's a more likely way in which this connection was made: Google.

Google not only knows the web, it also knows other information... like phone numbers (at least in the US). Jon mentioned this some time ago.

A spambot to get "connected information" would work like this. Say you write an automated script to go through phone numbers on Google. Then the script takes the address data and the person's name, and then googles the person's name. It takes the first few results (or maybe only the first one) and scans the resulting pages to match an email's name to the person's name. Sure, this won't be 100% correct, but spammers don't care about that. And Google's reach makes it reasonable to think that you'd have a reasonably high hit rate. You could even write a program that uses the GoogleAPI for it.

Sure, we could say, as Scott McNealy does, that "you're privacy is gone, get over it". Even if you don't agree with that statement (and I don't, at least I want to resist it!), this is nevertheless disturbing. And the question that follows is: does Google have any responsibility for this? They'd probably say that they're providing a service by integrating yellow pages information, which would be true.

I'm not picking on Google, rather Google is the example here because of its reach and pervasiveness, but I'm sure that similar things can be done with other search engines and if not it won't be long before you can. Can we fix this at all? If so, how?

Since this is the tip of the iceberg, my main thought at the moment is that I'm a character from Lost in Space and all I hear is "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!".

How to block spambots, ban spybots, and
tell unwanted robots to go to hell

How to block spambots, ban spybots, and
tell unwanted robots to go to hell 03/13/2003 10:20 AM
I fight back against telemarketers who abuse my phone, and now I'm fighting back against robots who abuse my web site. (1871 words)

The Kabal Invasion

The Kabal Invasion 04/13/2004 09:52 AM
Project grand re-opening!

Die Invasion hat begonnen!

Die Invasion hat begonnen! 06/06/2004 06:49 PM
Front Pages of News Papers from Tuesday June 6th and Wendsday June 7th 1944
The wonderful Newseum provides a look back at some of the front pages from newspapers reporting the invasion of "Fortress Europe" 60 years ago today.

Invasion Of The Pod People

Invasion Of The Pod People 04/06/2005 02:39 AM

This is the sound of the world's first iTour. A digitally downloadable guide to Glasgow's creative hotspots, well off the beaten path and with a soundtrack to die for. By Craig Brown, The Scotsman

A Canadian Invasion

A Canadian Invasion 08/27/2004 03:59 PM
Toronto-Dominion is the latest Canadian bank to look for growth south of the border. No, not in Mexico.

Windows Invasion

Windows Invasion 01/09/2004 09:50 PM
Can you believe this is the 80th episode of Freeloader Friday? Thanks goes out to all you freeloaders that have made this series so popular.

This week we'll keep the tradition alive with a collection of freeware designed to take you behind enemy lines in the platform wars.

Join me for 2004's first Freeloader Friday!

Like Pixels? Check out MacDesign

Invasion of the Centibots

Invasion of the Centibots 12/20/2003 08:42 AM
San Jose Mercury News Dec 20 2003 8:12AM ET

Invasion Of The iPods II

Invasion Of The iPods II 02/05/2005 09:39 PM

The Giant Shuffle is here.

Invasion Of The iPods

Invasion Of The iPods 02/05/2005 09:39 PM

Dave Winer: Walking through [New York City] is like walking through an Apple ad.

The Invasion Begins

The Invasion Begins 12/12/2003 02:14 AM
Mars Attacks!
"In 1962, Topps released the bubble-gum cards known as "Mars Attacks". They were the creation of Len Brown and Woody Gelman. They were painted by the famous pulp-comic artist, Norm Saunders. Presented here, for the first time on the Web, are scanned reproductions of their genius..."

Invasion of the Body Switchers

Invasion of the Body Switchers 12/19/2004 03:18 PM
and James Edwards Wouldn't it be great if we could update the classic ALA Style Switcher to accommodate multiple users and devices, including some that aren't even traditional browsers, all from a single JavaScript and CSS file? Well, now we can! Enter the Body Switcher.

"invasion of Western Europe"

"invasion of Western Europe" 06/09/2004 10:55 AM

Invasion of the identity snatchers

Invasion of the identity snatchers 09/24/2004 07:38 AM
They're coming. Don't fall asleep

US says Iraq invasion was legal

US says Iraq invasion was legal 09/16/2004 04:42 PM
The US rebuffs UN chief Kofi Annan's assertion that the American-led invasion of Iraq was illegal.

Iraq's Robot Invasion

Iraq's Robot Invasion 12/27/2004 03:53 PM
Fortune Dec 27 2004 6:28PM GMT

Invasion of the iSCSI arrays

Invasion of the iSCSI arrays 04/01/2005 06:49 AM
TechWorld Apr 1 2005 11:11AM GMT

Invasion Of The American Spelling

Invasion Of The American Spelling 05/13/2004 03:46 AM
Oh gosh, I just realised that I have no idea which is of the spelling of "center/centre" is American, and which is British.

"The Neal Pollack Invasion"

"The Neal Pollack Invasion" 04/09/2004 04:12 PM

The Neal Pollack Invasion

The Neal Pollack Invasion 04/09/2004 04:08 PM
The Neal Pollack covers the Condi testimony: .. And now we go to this live report .. Dr. Rice's Testimony .. Neil explains it all .. is blogging it .. astute summary .. What he said .. more

nealpollack.com/cgi-bin/blog/do.cgi/200404080153/permalink
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Invasion Of The iPod Zombies

Invasion Of The iPod Zombies 02/14/2004 09:28 AM

'Sasser' Worm Tip of the PC Bug Invasion
(washingtonpost.com)

'Sasser' Worm Tip of the PC Bug Invasion
(washingtonpost.com) 05/12/2004 08:35 AM
washingtonpost.com - The Microsoft software tool designed to rid computers of the fast-spreading "Sasser" worm has been downloaded nearly 2 million times since it was made available earlier this month, the company said. But that tool may provide little or no protection against scores of other programs that quietly circulated online for weeks before Sasser garnered widespread attention.

"he set about perpetuating his favourite
lie about the invasion of Iraq"

"he set about perpetuating his favourite
lie about the invasion of Iraq" 05/25/2004 05:39 PM

Invasion alert in DR Congo town

Invasion alert in DR Congo town 08/18/2004 04:51 AM
Security is stepped up in the border town of Bukavu after Rwanda and Burundi said they could send troops into Democratic Republic of Congo.

Privacy invasion with Internet files

Privacy invasion with Internet files 07/05/2004 08:46 PM
Business Day Newspaper Jul 5 2004 11:50PM GMT

Iraq Invasion Sparks Protests

Iraq Invasion Sparks Protests 03/21/2003 05:59 AM
Across the United States, Americans take to the streets, bridges and capitol steps in reaction to the war in Iraq. Many oppose the war, while others say they just want to support the troops.

SCO shies from French Linux invasion

SCO shies from French Linux invasion 12/17/2003 01:16 PM
Cancelled before it signed up

City Survives Art Geek Invasion

City Survives Art Geek Invasion 09/07/2004 04:49 AM
This year's Ars Electronica festival turned the city of Linz, Austria, into one big digital art installation, featuring everything from car alarms programmed with laugh tracks to messages broadcast by antelope horn. By Michelle Delio.

Dell fights Alien Invasion

Dell fights Alien Invasion 08/08/2004 10:49 AM

GarageGames introduces DH: Lore Invasion

GarageGames introduces DH: Lore Invasion 03/22/2005 03:31 PM
GarageGames on Monday announced the release of DH: Lore Invasion for PC, Mac, Linux and Linspire. The new game puts the "player into the very mind of the most lethal war machines ever to engage combat in the war-torn Earth of 2155" as three superpowers are fighting for ultimate control in a massive cold war. "We wanted to create a game that brought the essence of pure online player-vs-player gaming back," DH: Lore Invasion creator Adrian Wright said. "Based on our love for big battling robots, mecha-style games and intense action, along with the assistance of a vibrant player community, we built DH: Lore Invasion." DH: Lore Invasion can be purchased from GarageGames.com for $29.95 and requires Mac OS X 10.1 or later.

Google Mail: Innovation or Invasion?

Google Mail: Innovation or Invasion? 04/13/2004 03:42 PM
Does the "G" in "Gmail" stand for "going... going... gone"?

scott evans :: McMansion invasion

scott evans :: McMansion invasion 05/08/2004 04:54 AM
nice cute houses being replaced by huge mansions .. these monstrosities .. McMansion invasion .. a photo journal

antisleep.com/archives/2004-05-07_0247.php
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Report: 'Sasser' worm invasion

Report: 'Sasser' worm invasion 05/03/2004 11:02 AM
ZDNet May 3 2004 3:09PM GMT

Vegas Steels for Borg Invasion

Vegas Steels for Borg Invasion 03/06/2004 01:52 AM
Borg Invasion 4D, opening soon at the Hilton, promises to whisk Star Trek fans to new frontiers of 3-D experience, without all the shaking. Steve Friess reports from Las Vegas.

Review: Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion
(PC)

Review: Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion
(PC) 09/25/2004 03:09 PM
Overclockers Club Sep 25 2004 5:39PM GMT

Microsoft Office Faces British Invasion

Microsoft Office Faces British Invasion 11/02/2003 11:55 AM

"New Yorkers' reactions to the
Republican invasion of their city "

"New Yorkers' reactions to the
Republican invasion of their city " 08/19/2004 09:01 PM

DVD to watch on 50th anniversary of
Normandy invasion

DVD to watch on 50th anniversary of
Normandy invasion 06/09/2004 12:35 PM

Stuck at home for the last couple of days with a sore throat and earache and catching up on my TV viewing...  Just finished "E ye of Vichy", a 1993 collection of newsreels produced in France during the period of the Vichy French government.  As the victors we've tended to write the history of World War II and forget that not everyone was unhappy in the France of 1940-44.

The film is a chronological assemblage of newsreels with a touch of commentary but mostly just subtitled translation.  Occupation and surrender initially usher in a great wave of optimism.  The French dream of a unified Europe from Japan through Siberia and west to the shores of France and Spain.  (Remember that at the time of the German invasion the Soviets and Germans were allies).  It was upsetting to have lost the war in a matter of weeks but the future of European union looked bright.

For the speakers featured in the newsreels "collaboration" is a good word.  They are proud of the millions of Frenchmen working in Germany, fighting in the German army (mostly on the Russian front), and building military hardware for the German army.  Cheerful young people are shown leaving France on special trains to take up apprenticeships in German firms where they are then shown alongside cheerful helpful German workers.  A narrator notes that France contributed more labor and war production to Germany than any other country; invading France really seems to have been one of Hitler's best ideas.

The Jews come in for a bit of beating in these newsreels as you might expect.  Jews are compared to rats as a danger to the human race.  They are cowardly but are still dangerous due to their "superior numbers".  [This is an odd claim considering that French Jews numbered only about 225,000 in 1933, less than one percent of the total French population. For an explanation of how any of these Jews survived the war, see this review of the book IBM and the Holocaust]

As in German films of the same era the final year of the war brings a lot of sad coverage of bombed-out homes and cities.  The British and American air forces are the villains here, of course, bombing the innocent civilians that they were hypocritically claiming to be saving.  There is a clever animated film in which airplanes piloted by Disney characters drop "Made in USA" bombs on the home of some French suburbanites who'd been chatting about how much they were looking forward to liberation by the English and all of the beloved foods they'd be able to eat again as well as the English cigarettes that they'd be smoking.

If you're a World War II buff this is worth seeing because of the 50th anniversary of Normandy.  If you're an imperialist it might be worth seeing as an example of how to make invading and occupying a country pay off big time economically (cf. American invasion of Iraq 2003 for what not to do).

HP unveils plans for digital home
invasion

HP unveils plans for digital home
invasion 01/05/2005 01:07 AM
Strategy hinges on new HD TV media "hub," expanded line of flat-panel TVs and a leap into new video copy protection technology.
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Invasion of the spambots

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