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Spammers using Google to hack Gmail

Opinion
Nov 06, 20072 mins
Data and Information Security

Symantec’s Jitender Sarda  has an interesting blog item about how Google’s I’m feeling lucky functionality is being misused by spammers to guide people to sites that look like they’re hosted on the Google domain. Now most savvy users are probably smart enough to not buy their Viagara or male enhancement products or take their stock tips from unsolicited email — even if looks like it’s linking to a Google.com

So why are the spammers doing this?

Well, for one thing it helps you get through spam filters.

Check out this email that got through Gmail’s (pretty good) anti-spam filters and was delivered to my gmail address last July. At the time, it took you to a loan application Web site, but now it’s apparently redirecting to an anti-spam site. Looks like maybe the anti-spammers are gaming Google too.

Gates, Isaac”          hide details     Jul 1

    to        XXXX@gmail.com     

    cc   

    date        Jul 1, 2007 11:15 PM     

    subject        Your loan application is waiting     

Your Refinace Approval

Are you still paying too much for your mortgage?

Reefinance us better rate.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mortgage+refinancing+easyratemortage&btnI=28FyXTsoOrAz

“You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” Albert Camus

–Robert McMillan