new spamming technique yahoo messenger spamming

yahoo spamming

I then asked some “pro” regarding this and they told me that most probably, this was caused by a malware or a “worm”. I asked my friend to do a virus scan. She wiped out her hard drive and made a fresh install. Since then, there were no more “spam” from her.

However, another buddy got “infected” by this and sends out IMs also on a different language. But lately, I was surprised because one of my buddies were sending me IMs (in English) regarding a “diet pill” (sample of the message below). I thought he was just promoting something. But when almost 5 buddies were sending the message, I was alarmed that they might be infected by a worm or malware.

So the question is, is my account being “hacked”. Was someone able to figure out the passwords of these users (including me) and then send spam to all our contact on our list? Or it is a worm the controls not the IM client, but the connection itself so it can send messages and command without opening an IM windows and execute a feature (the “buzz”) even if it is not supported by your client. Most probably it is a worm or malware.

I tried searching the net but not enough info. My brother gave me a link to a forum (on a different language). But when I try google’s transaltor, it is filtered in our office. So my resolution is to do a full system scan. Also run anti-malware/spyware scan. Then reformat and reinstall everything (which I will be doing anyway since my partitioning sucks), and delete any programs I downloaded from the net that I don’t need (well, those are clean programs, but I don’t need it).

yahoo spam example

Another question is, how did I get that malware/worm. Honestly, I don’t know. There are actually 3 computers at home. Two desktops and a laptop. The other desktop, is owned by my wife’s sister. I used to secure that computer but my wife’s nephew wants to do it “his way”. I turned of file and print sharing then. However the laptop was being used by my father-in-law and other people. File and print sharing is active on that one. In any case, some worm/malware can penetrate other computers on the network even if file and print sharing is off. And there are viruses, worms, and malware on the other desktop.

The laptop’s LCD is broken, and I already disconnected the other desktop from the network. Maybe this time, everything will be fine after reinstall.

Either Yahoo! Messenger sponsors spammers (not that would surprise me) or Myfreecamhost has found a loophole in Yahoo Instant Messenger.

I am daily receiving half a dozen, most likely automated, Yahoo instant messages from various random email id’s on myfreecamhost. Two examples below:

(11/05/2007 08:34:09 AM) kandy0002029@myfreecamhost.com: I thought you might like to watch my webcam (free) www . freecamerahost . com / user522

(11/05/2007 10:58:11 AM) kandygirl0016818@freecamerahost.com: I really enjoyed your profile, take a look at mine… www . freecamerahost . com / user522

Note: Don’t try the url’s. That will be sponsoring these dirty spammers.

Blocking them individually is meaningless as they are obviously randomly generating email id’s.

I have four questions for Yahoo!:
1. How did they get my email? My Yahoo ID isn’t public.
2. How is it that any random person (or bot) can IM me without first requiring my approval?
3. How can I block emails from a whole domain in Yahoo! IM?
4. Why isn’t Yahoo doing something about it as I am sure I am not the only one getting bothered by them.

Lesson to learn: Don’t trust everything on the net (websites/files/etc.) and always do a system scan (anti malware/spyware etc….) once in a while. And buy a good router with good firewall settings (that’s what I’m going to do).