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On the edge of virtual e-nsanity
(Molouk Y. Ba-lsa, ArabNews, 28 October 2002)
First we had the Internet, then we got spam and now we have e-mail spoofing. What is e-mail spoofing? The most basic description is that it is an appropriation of your e-mail address. . . . E-mail spoofing is the forgery of an e-mail header or "From" section on an e-mail so the message seems to have come from someone or somewhere other than the actual source. . . . The e-mail had the header "salam" and was purportedly from Microsoft Inc. More than half the addresses on the recipients’ list belonged to journalists at Arab News. Initial investigations have shown that the individual who sent the mail had some professional training. The person attached a variant of a known virus hours before the fix was available. Although the criminal was creative, unfortunately the virus chosen came with a .exe extension. Frankly, I wouldn’t open a .exe attachment even if it came from my mother. . . . If you do receive an e-mail that you believe is fraudulent, do not hesitate to pick up the telephone and contact the individual involved. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, ran an article on Sept. 3, by Michael Gillespie, titled, "Israeli computer hackers foiled, exposed." . . . The Washington Report story told how the e-mail addresses of dozens of human rights and anti-war activists had been abused by Israeli hackers during the months of July and August. For example, Israeli hackers targeted Stephen "Sami" Mashney, an Anaheim, California, attorney who has publicized the plight of Palestinians. According to Gillespie: "Mashney, who co-manages a popular pro-Palestinian e-mail list hosted by Yahoo! logged onto his Internet accounts on July 31 to find hundreds of e-mail messages from angry Americans. He quickly realized that hackers had appropriated or "spoofed" his e-mail addresses and identity and sent out a message titled "Down With America" in his name. . . . Some of the attacks originated from a West Bank ISP reached on dial-up from an Israeli telephone number. . . . Interestingly, while Internet spoofing is immoral, it’s not illegal in the Kingdom. Just as there are no local laws to prosecute those who might spam you, there is little you or the authorities could do to someone who stole your e-mail address. Where is that legislation we’ve all been waiting for? If it isn’t approved soon we’ll be pushed right over into virtual e-nsanity.

posted by LoZo 5:32 PM