2/3 of Spam emails cut off after one company shut down

[Balta1701]

Don't know if I've seen a change, but this is one fascinating story.

The volume of junk e-mail sent worldwide dropped drastically today after a Web hosting firm identified by the computer security community as a major host of organizations allegedy engaged in spam activity was taken offline, according to security firms that monitor spam distribution online.

 

While its gleaming, state-of-the-art, 30-story office tower in downtown San Jose, Calif., hardly looks like the staging ground for what could be called a full-scale cyber crime offensive, security experts have found that a relatively small firm at that location is home to servers that serve as a gateway for a significant portion of the world's junk e-mail.

 

The servers are operated by McColo Corp., which these experts say has emerged as a major U.S. hosting service for international firms and syndicates that are involved in everything from the remote management of millions of compromised computers to the sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and designer goods, fake security products and child pornography via email.

 

But the company's web site was not accessible today, when two Internet providers cut off MoColo's connectivity to the Internet, security experts said. Immediately after McColo was unplugged, security companies charted a precipitous drop in spam volumes worldwide. E-mail security firm IronPort said spam levels fell by roughly 66 percent as of Tuesday evening.

 

Spamcop.net, another spam watch dog, found a similar decline, from about 40 spam e-mails per second to around 10 per second. (See their graphic representation here.)

[HuskyCaucasian]

wow that's fascinating. Interesting to see so much of originated n the US. I always assumed most of it came form overseas.

[RockRaines]

I've been by that building. That just shows how much information can be moved from a small space.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I've been by that building. That just shows how much information can be moved from a small space.

it's all in the bandwidth

[Kyyle23]

Now if they could work on cutting back on the 4-1-9 scams, I would be very happy. I hate getting those emails.

 

 

I figured it was just a matter of time before the counterfeit pharmaceuticals was busted. My spam box is always loaded with crap titled "WANT C.I.A.L.I.S.?" and "Neck Pain? We can help!"

 

Its pretty stupid for them to be US based, im kind of surprised it isnt a foreign operation

[southsideirish71]

Now if they could work on cutting back on the 4-1-9 scams, I would be very happy. I hate getting those emails.

 

 

I figured it was just a matter of time before the counterfeit pharmaceuticals was busted. My spam box is always loaded with crap titled "WANT C.I.A.L.I.S.?" and "Neck Pain? We can help!"

 

Its pretty stupid for them to be US based, im kind of surprised it isnt a foreign operation

 

Smart enough to use botnets and fast flux, yet stupid enough to get tracked back to a single source. Wish the chinese attackers were that straight forward. I am surrpised that they would use the US for their base of operations as well. The real worry for everyone should be the aggressive model that China uses to target US companies and individuals for malware and for document and Intellectual Property collection. The grain of sand model seems to keep the Chinese in business.

 

 

[NorthSideSox72]

I have noticed a huge drop in spam lately - like 90%. I thought maybe my email provider had turned on a few filter or something.

 

[Texsox]

I have one last series that is still pissing me off and my filters can't catch them

 

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