Spam Over Internet Telephony (SPIT) to Come?

grub writes "According to this article on NewScientist.com 'Spam and spim - spam by instant messenger -- are about to be joined by "spit" - spam over internet telephony' Yup, spam via VoIP."

Comments

Why so surprised?

[Kenja]

So long as enough people are responding to spam to make it profitable, if you build it they will spam it.

Re:Why so surprised?

[TheOtherChimeraTwin]

And I think it works like this: the spammers sell spamming services to companies who think spam is a good way to sell services. As long as the spammers can sell services to somebody (even if doesn't work very well), there will be spam.

Hint to spammers: You don't actually have to send out the spam, just say you do and pocket the money. Everyone will be happier. (Including your clients who mostly get a blackeye and aggrevation out of your services.)

At least

[Apreche]

At least with this one type of spam I know that the spammer is paying big bugs in bandwith to make it work. Just maybe we'll be lucky and it will turn out that voip spam isn't profitable and we will be free of it.

Re:At least

[iamatlas]

At least with this one type of spam I know that the spammer is paying big bugs in bandwith to make it work.

Hold yer horses there Mr Rose-Colored Glasses: Spamers aren't exactly known for their ethical consuption of paid-for-out-of-pocket bandwidth. I'm sure it would be trivial to turn zombied computers into SPIT-bots.

Optimistic

[IamGarageGuy 2]

I don't see the same people that respond to spam, as the same people using telephoney. I will predict that the profit margin to people that respond will be too low to make this worthwhile until VOIP becomes more mainstream like email. (I can dream can't I)

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[El]

Sorry, but my bullshit alarm is going off!

He adds that viruses are also possible with VoIP. A virus sent to phones could be used to launch more spit or to bring together thousands of VoIP systems to launch denial-of-service attacks.

Yeah, right, 'cause we always execute our voice mail messages!

Also, how is spamming voice mail via VoIP any different than just calling everybody up POTS?!? This article sounds more like another company trying to promote their "solution in search of a problem." Here's a hint: if spammers spoof their caller id and figure out how to insert random variations in the outgoing messages, this system isn't going to work anyway!

Re:Beep! Beep! Beep!

[badriram]

Yes and everyone did think jpeg, pngs and bmps were safe too.

I am not saying it is easy to do, but it is a possibility.

Question.

[ScytheBlade1]

Are you really that suprised?

Read: telemarkerters.

What do they stop at? Nothing.

Re:Hopefully SPIT dosen't go this far...

[Tanktalus]

That will be very difficult.

• First, today's spam has a link that says "http://somelegitsite.com", but the href is "http://1.2.3.4/uniqueID" to make you think you're going to a legit site, but really sending you elsewhere. Hard to do with voice contact, or, rather, audio contact.
• Second, they would never use a toll-free number. That would not only cost them money rather than you, but be easily traceable. For those who don't mind the traceability, it'll be a 900 number.

Besides, it'll all be automated - no human voice at the other end ;-)

Re:Hah!

[Volmarias]

I have to say, this may end up turning out as a blessing in disguise. It's bad enough that most people have to deal with spam, but when you can effectively completely fuck a businesses telephony over anonymously and with little trouble, you'll end up seeing legislation. I guarentee you that.

I'd love to see a bayesian filter for voice data.

Breath People!

[Amigori]

As the world becomes more and more connected and integrated, I find myself becoming more disconnected. Yes, I have my broadband connection and cell phone, but I can, and do, turn them off when I want to. The increased sense of urgency in the world of having to do everything by yesterday has only encouraged me to turn my electronics off. And its not like the world's going to end if you can't see the latest version of last nights sports scores, your friend can't call you a l00z3r on IM, or check the latest duplicate on /.; although maybe for some, it would.

As for spit, I really don't plan on getting VoIP anytime soon as I'm satisfied by my POTS landline. Do I have to pay taxes on it, yes; so what? We pay taxes on everything, including VoIP indirectly. You might not have taxes on VoIP, yet, but I'll bet there are taxes and surcharges on your Cable/DSL bill. The article itself does not have much content past the rhetorical comments regarding growth and registries. And the moment that I get a virus on my telephone is the moment I dig out an old beige mechanical AT&T phone. Seriously, how many features does your household phone need? Caller ID, sure; Call Waiting, nah, if its important, they'll call back; voicemail, get an answering machine and save $5/mo.; etc.

Take a deep breath people and realize that humans and our respected cultures have existed for thousands of years and by turning your electronic toys, at least for a few minutes, you might find peaceful relaxation or learn something that does not have power requirement.

But what do I know, it seems the Slashdot audience lives behind the glow rather than under the sun, so I may be preaching to the wrong crowd. --Amigori