PC Security: Google Docs - latest tool for spam tricksters

Spammers have started to use Google Docs to deliver their unsolicited messages in a continued effort to circumvent spam filters, according to McAfee's spam researchers. Google Docs is Google's online rival to Microsoft's Word text processing application.

By hosting their message on legitimate sites such as Google Docs, spammers make it harder for anti-spam technology to block the messages.

As a result, the junk mail can slide under the radar of many e-mail filters.

In the Google Docs attacks spammers send a simple text e-mail that includes a link to a document hosted on the Google service. The Google document actually includes the spammy message, for example advertising medications, stocks or other items.

The Google Docs spam is similar to image hosting spam, whereby spammers use legitimate image hosting services to serve up their message.

The volume of Google Docs spam isn't very high. On a recent day McAfee Avert Labs' spam traps captured 517 spam e-mail messages that included links to Google Docs. Internet users should be aware that a link to any Web site, including Google Docs, could be malicious.

Spam poses a significant threat to businesses and consumers. Not only does unwanted e-mail clog inboxes and take up time, cybercrooks use spam to deliver malicious software or trick unsuspecting consumers into giving up personal information through phishing attacks.

McAfee's anti-spam technology currently detects and blocks the Google Docs spam.

More at: http://www.mcafee.com/