Computer spam becomes sinister

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Spam has become a means of peddling dark political messages and can go hand in hand with viruses.

It crams up your inbox with offers of cut-price pills and potions, offers of riches unheard of or deals you can't resist - and its getting worse.

With internet companies such as Telecom's Xtra struggling to fight the ever-increasing deluge of unwanted email, the latest twist in the spam battle is sinister.

Last week, computers in New Zealand and around the world were inundated with email bearing racist messages or links to websites such as the right-wing German National Party.

The attack of most concern to computer security experts has come from Hungary. In these cases, the spam has been generated by viruses and worms.

Emails arrive in an inbox and infect a machine, and in some cases use the victim's list of addresses to further spread the infection - and the unwanted message.

Xtra's head of broadband and the internet, Chris Thompson, says the problem is a growing and serious threat.

It has reached the point where the company identified 85 per cent of incoming mail one day this week as either worms or spam.

In January, Xtra blocked five million attacks - in April there were 18 million. Over the past two years, it has counted 109 million.

The company has launched a website to tell people in plain English the steps they should take to protect themselves from spam and viruses.

"If the amount of traffic I have personally seen is any measure, it is my belief that we are losing the battle on educating users," said a specialist with the United States-based SANS Internet Storm Center, which monitors internet attacks.

"Virus writers continue to become even more sneaky with the mass mailing virus breed."

In New Zealand, the Government is considering legislation to prevent spam, although the industry is divided on whether it will work.

Nick FitzGerald, of Christchurch's Computer Virus Consulting, said the problem was made worse partly by people failing to take steps to protect themselves, and partly by manufacturers and the industry.

Most home PC buyers were under the impression they were buying a safe, "plug and play" device when in fact computers were sold with vulnerabilities in their systems which could be exploited.

Worm and virus programme writers were becoming more sophisticated, Mr FitzGerald said, and people's misunderstanding of basic safe practices made their job easy.

"Even if the email says it's from your brother Bob, or your Aunt June, unless you are expecting an attachment from them, don't double click on it," said Mr FitzGerald. "It's fundamentally risky."

Microsoft's security spokesman, Terry Allen, said computers were more "organic" than other home appliances and were interconnected with others through the internet, so it was natural that systems would need updates and modifications.

He said a combination of legislation, education, technology and self-regulation was needed to combat spam and viruses. With that, he was confident that the "spike" in problems could be overcome.

On the technology front, he said developments in the next few months would make things much better for people.

But consumers could follow some old common-sense rules. "It's like the old stories: don't take candy from strangers and if a travelling salesman offers something that seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Xtra's top three tips

* Install anti-virus software.

* Regularly update operating software to ensure the computer is running on its most secure version.

* Install a firewall.

Nick FitzGerald's suggestions:

* Make sure your Microsoft operating software has the latest updates and security patches. If you are not sure, check the Microsoft security page where you can download updates and, if necessary, order a free copy of the CD produced in February to bring older systems up to date.

* Get the Windows XP service pack 2 when it becomes available in the next few months.

* Investigate installing non-Microsoft internet browsers and email system, at least as back-up.


* Email Eugene Bingham