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A California Web hosting company that was a major source of spam (as well as a host of child porn, and seller of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and designer goods) has been effectively shut down -- but only after numerous security firms and the Washington Post reported on its activities. The slow process has some Internet security folks claiming that U.S. Internet security laws and law-enforcement agencies are either moving too slow or basically toothless.
The majority of the world's spam, as junk email is known, originated or was controlled by servers at Web hosting firm McColo Corp., based in a sleek, modern
One of McColo's activities was controlling botnets, essentially computer programs that illegally use remote computers like yours, ours, and everyone else's to send out spam. One of the botnets controlled by McColo sent out up to half a billion spam messages a day with the common messages for penis enlargement pills or other designer drugs. According to Marshal, a security company in the United Kingdom, the botnet activity was responsible for almost 75-percent of the world's junk mail.
But some in the Internet security business say McColo has been a known spam offender for a long time -- and they don't know why it has taken so long for action. A Web server that was remotely operated by a computer at McColo was responsible for stealing more than half a million bank, debit and credit card numbers during the last two-and-a-half years. (See more about a similar item here.)
"There is damning evidence that this activity has been going on there for way too long, and plenty of people in the security community have gone out of their way to raise awareness about this network, but nobody (in law enforcement) seems to care," said Paul Ferguson, a threat researcher with computer security firm Trend Micro. [From: The Washington Post]
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Comments
49
Subscribe to commentsluciferspantsNov 12th 2008 12:23PM
I still had a viagra ad in my email this morning...maybe they still have a few more plugs to kick out of the wall.
philipmimiNov 12th 2008 12:39PM
if they hacve been caught lock them up and throw away the key and do not repeat o not allow them near a computer again if caught tack a plus 1 day to their time before they can get a parole that one day clause means that they need a 100 percent jury agreement in order to get a parols
grassoladyNov 12th 2008 12:45PM
I have won so much money in the past few years...you can't believe it, hahaha. I answer back and tell them to donate it to the poor of their country...I have way too much to take any more!
Star ThrowerNov 13th 2008 7:39AM
grassolady>> I hope you aren't actually replying to those "giveaways"! If you are, you're confirming that yours is a "live" address and opening yourself up to a world of more junk e-mail!
Just delete it and if your e-mail account has the option, block the domain from future sendings. Blocking is usually a waste of time as spammers buy up domains by the thousands, but at least you feel like you're doing SOMETHING!
TrudyNov 13th 2008 1:05PM
You and I both. I am so glad these Nothings got caught and put to a stop until it is Haleluah Time okay! They prey on people just like the last President, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, and ETC. I got so exasperated with receiving mail telling me "You Have Won" and all the time they wanted me to send them money to take a chance which I never could have won because there was no chance to win okay. And especailly preying on the Elderly and the Poor. I HOPE THEY GET PUT UNDERNEATH THE JAIL AND STAY THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
Bonefish26Nov 12th 2008 1:28PM
Does it ever occur to anybody to queston what use anyone would have for the 3000 or so e-mail addresses that web hosting outfits provide?
Deborah FergusonNov 13th 2008 2:01AM
3,000 emails for legitimate promotions, political ads, etc... Also, no one said all spam had been stopped, just "supposedly" 75% by this particular group. Hey, it's a start.
John LawrenceNov 12th 2008 1:39PM
Thank God. I do agree that the federal government needs to jump on crooks like this with both feet. They typically sentence bank robbers to fifteen years as they are considered to be dedicated, career criminals.
Why not lock up these guys for about fifteen years? It would have a big impact on aspiring hackers.
scottNov 12th 2008 1:39PM
There are no 30 story buildings in San Jose. There never will be office buildings in San Jose that tall because of the airport.
With a blatant error like that, I question the authenticity of the article.
CJNov 13th 2008 12:37AM
If you'll re-read the second paragraph, you will see that the person crossed out the 30 stories... meaning they saw their mistake and corrected it.
hollowellNov 12th 2008 2:00PM
About time we revived the sure fix for such b---------ds:
public drawing and quartering---slowly----like how long it takes to sort and erase spam.
Bob H.Nov 12th 2008 2:22PM
Putthe buggers so far away they have to pipe sunlight to them...
TrudyNov 13th 2008 1:12PM
Now if all the False Mail; Post Cards, Metered Mail and etc. would stop it would really be great! I'm so tired of receive bogus Winnings from Nevada, Australia, and New Zealand until it is a shame. Please whoever is investigating these tireless hackers, please stop the Physical Mail Demons too? Always begging for $25, $30, dollars to get a report of who won and so called entering me into thier chances to win. Win What? And oh yea you must read the FINE PRINT. PLEASE PUT THESE OUT OF BUSINESS AS WELL? THANK YOU.
keithNov 12th 2008 3:21PM
isn't it funny that everyone wants to hang a spammer but not the company that sends out junk snail mail. the government has sure brainwashed everyone against spam....why you ask....they dont make money on postage from spam and everyone knows the government HATES compatition.
EventideNov 12th 2008 3:25PM
Thow them UNDER the prison! The b*st*rds! I already lost an Apple note book to them!
If I had my druthers it would be death (Or not) by a thousand cuts!
JasonNov 13th 2008 8:27AM
Look, spam e-mail will never stop and half the spam out there is from other countries. You lost an apple mac book to spam?!?! !? Spam e-mail will not kill the any computer, it may mess up the software (OS) but not harm the computer physically. All you would have to do is reload the OS or repair the OS (operating system). Also getting spam alone will not harm your computer in any way. It is when you click on links contained in the e-mail that you start to cause issues. So if it says that it will give you a bigger penis or something stupid dont open it and start clicking links, if you do its your own fault. Doing that is like giving personal info to some random person over the phone that you dont know so again dont do it.
david millerNov 12th 2008 7:24PM
Looks like the bldg is about twelve stories.... not thirty. What other misinformation does this article have?
Will SaferNov 12th 2008 7:33PM
David, both you and Scott (above comment) are right. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
MemeNov 12th 2008 8:38PM
Paul Ferguson is 100% right that law enforcement doesn't care. My ex brother in law stalked me for over a year online, put viruses and key loggers in my computer and would sit in the morning reading the logs - my daughter caught him. I went to everyone from AOL to the local Sheriff to some State agencies and NO ONE would help me. I had spent over $400 in computer repairs. He lived with us at the time and his computer was about 6 ft. from mine. All I got from the sheriff is that he could do anything to my computer as it was in the same house as his - and same for me to his. His exact words was that I could "take a fire hose to his computer if I wanted to." I didn't use a fire hose but let's say he didn't use his little key logger on me for a week while his wet computer was in the shop. ALL that crap should be illigal and he should be in jail. Meanwhile, he still stalks me at Pogo, 5 years later. He's a sick SOB that's for sure! Only thing law enforcement did was help me to get "even" a little bit, when they SHOULD have arrested him IMO. I'm glad those spammers are busted too. I DON'T need Viagra, but they sure need to be in jail as well for even having child porn. Sick people they are! Throw EVERY book at him / them.
CappyNov 12th 2008 9:43PM
These people should have to pay damages to the IP addresses they've logged over the years!!!