The Federal Trade Commission yesterday kicked off a campaign to educate Internet service providers about hijacked computers, or “zombies,” being used by spammers to send unwanted e-mail advertisements.
The U.S. Commerce Department, the Department of Homeland Security and 33 agencies from 25 foreign nations have joined the FTC in the effort, dubbed “Operation Spam Zombies.” The operation will send letters to more than 3,000 Internet service providers advising them on ways to secure their computers from hijacking attempts by spammers.
In the operation's next phase, the FTC and its partner agencies will try to identify computers that have been turned into spam zombies, along with the networks that host them. The network providers would then receive notification of the hijacking, the FTC said.
The operation's Web site is located at ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/spam/zombie/index.htm. The Web site contains information on securing computers against hijacking as well as a copy of the letter being sent to Internet service providers.
Scott Hovanyetz covers telemarketing, production and printing and direct response TV marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
