Posts Tagged ‘spam’

Attack of the Zune Spam Zombies

Monday, May 7th, 2012

Microsoft discontinued the Zune (i.e., their unpopular iPod clone that, despite coming in brown and being able to “squirt” songs at other people) back in October of 2001. So why am I still getting the same braindead Zune-related comments spam I’ve gotten for the past two years?

“This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace.”

“The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s.”

“Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune.”

My theory is that someone out there sells a ScriptKiddie Comment Spamming Kit that includes pre-loaded Zune comments as the example payload text, and most spammers never bother to switch them out.

Now if I could just figure out why I keep getting comment spam promoting a washed-up rapper…

The Fungus That Is Spam (and Ruining Their Business)

Friday, March 25th, 2011

I usually get some 20-30 pieces of comment spam or so a day, on various topics. Today, there were 131 pieces, almost all of them for “laser toenail fungus remover.” So in order to ruin their business for anyone who might actually need their service, here’s a hint: Soak the afflicted toe in vinegar. The acidity kills the fungus. And I bet it’s a lot cheaper than going to some clinic…

Finally, Amusing Comments Spam

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

I get about 10-20 spam comments for every real one. I know all this is done by automated bots, and all of it should get filtered into the spam folder (then deleted). However, I did think that this one, with the links stripped out, was funny enough to save:

I’m currently being held prisoner by the Russian mafia penis enlargement and being forced to post spam comments on blogs and forum! If you don’t approve this they will kill me. penis enlargement They’re coming back now. Please send help!

Let’s hope posting this doesn’t get my blog labeled as spam itself…

Gmail Phishing Spam to My Gmail Account that the Gmail Filter Didn’t Catch

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

Well, this is quite worrisome: A phishing scam purported to be from Google, sent to my Gmail account, that Gmail didn’t flag as spam.

Warning!
Reply
Gmail Alert

Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

The Gmail Team is working on total security on all accounts and because of this security upgrade, we require all Gmail members to verify their account with Google. To prevent your account from disability you will have to update your information by clicking the reply button and filling the space below.

User name:
Date of Birth:
Country:
Pass Word:

NOTE: Account owner that refuses to update his or her account within Seven days of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.
Thank you for using Gmail!
The Gmail Team
Your Intellectual Property Rights
Google does not claim any ownership in any of the content, including any text, data, information, images, photographs, music, sound, video, or other material, that you upload, transmit or store in your Gmail account. We will not use any of your content for any purpose except to provide you with the Service. The provision of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync functionality to you does not grant, and you do not receive, any rights under any Microsoft intellectual property with respect to any device or software that you use to access such Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync functionality. ©2010 Google

Gmail is usually very good at catch spam and phishing scams. But given it’s purported to be from them, this is the sort of thing you think Google would be able to catch.