Spit Will Be Worse Than Spam

KentuckyFC writes "A team of German computer scientists has developed a program that reproduces all the known forms of spit (spam over internet telephony) attack. Their plan is to make the spitting software available to computer security experts wanting to test antispit strategies. Developing these won't be easy. There are various antispit techniques, such as white lists that allow only calls from predetermined callers, Turing tests such as audio CAPTCHAs that make a caller prove he or she is human and payment-at-risk services where the caller makes a small payment in advance and is refunded immediately if the receiver acknowledges the call as legitimate. But all have weaknesses, say the researchers. The main difference between junk calls and junk email is that the email arrives at your mail server before you access it. This gives the server time to analyze its content and filter out the junk before it gets to you. Not so with internet telephony, which is why radically different strategies are needed."

Comments

Spit?

[truthsearch]

The name leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

(Sorry.)

Spam? Spit? What's next?

[oahazmatt]

Spam? Spit? What's next? Spam in Everday Reading Material?

"I'm getting sick of the SPERM in the morning paper."

Re:Spam? Spit? What's next?

[DriedClexler]

How about Spam in Object-Oriented Graphics Engines?

"Parents! Don't let your kids buy GTA V, its graphics include SPOOGE!"
"Okay Mr. Thompson, it's time for your meds."

(Alright, alright, kind of strained)

Re:Call Screening

[wile_e_wonka]

Dad,

Your son at college asking for money is not a "spam bot."

-Jim

Re:#1 question

[ArcherB]

This has the potential to be as bad as (or worse) than spam. Think about it - if you were telemarketing, you'd have to hire a bunch of people to work in a call center. This costs money (rent, phone lines, people). What about all those pre-recorded calls I get telling me to vote for Hillary Clinton or whoever?

(Disclaimer: That was not a jibe at Hillary. I actually got a call from a real live person working for the Hillary campaign when my state's primaries were looming. She just started talking, so I actually thought she was a recording. I was joking with my wife about "Hillary Clinton" showing up on the caller ID and said, "I told Hill not to call me at home! I wonder if Bill knows how much she calls me? I guess what's good for the goose..." That's when the lady said, "excuse me?" I then realized she was a real person.)