Researchers Hijack Storm Worm To Track Profits

An anonymous reader points out a story in the Washington Post, which begins: "A single response from 12 million e-mails is all it takes for spammers to turn annual profits of millions of dollars promoting knockoff pharmaceuticals, according to an unprecedented new study on the economics of spam. Over a period of about a month in the Spring of 2008, researchers at the University of California, San Diego and UC Berkeley sought to measure the conversion rate of spam by quietly infiltrating the Storm worm botnet, a vast collection of compromised computers once responsible for sending an estimated 20 percent of all spam." The academic paper (PDF) is also available. We've previously discussed another group of researchers who were able to infiltrate the botnet for a different purpose.

Re:HMM...

[HexaByte]

They must be really smart. After all, how are they able to figure out how it is that I'm in need of a bigger schlong, can't get it up w/o viagra and need a new Rolex at bargain prices and I'm looking for a Russian wife. I mean, what kind of research have they been doing to target me perfectly?

Re:Double standards?

[Erikderzweite]

Or they could change the worm to format hard disks on infected machines -- once done, a PC cannot send spam till reinstall. And this time, the user will be a bit more careful about PC security.
Problemo solved!

Re:HMM...

[aaron alderman]

You post on Slashdot?

Re:HMM...

[Kandenshi]

Suggest an improvement?
Make them write lines.

No, before you roll your eyes so hard you sprain something, hear me out.
Try to get an estimate for how prolific this particular spammer is, and then make them legibly write out every e-mail they have ever sent by hand, using crappy 5 cent pens that splutter and run dry frequently.

They get released when they're done.

Storm Worm

[phazux]

Oh, Spam... right.

When I first read the title, I was thinking more along the lines of:

Bless the Maker and His water.
Bless the coming and going of Him,
may His passage cleanse the world,
may He keep the world for His people.

-- Frank Herbert

how to get suggestive phrases into a journal.

[jmhoule314]

I can now die happy having seen the phrase, "Excellent Hardness is Easy!" in an academic paper.

Re:HMM...

[emlyncorrin]

Speak for yourself.

oh wait...

Re:HMM...

[Whiteox]

Damn it! You're right.
Out of all the spam I've gotten in recent years, I've only got 1 from a Russian bride-to-be:

Hello! My name is Nataliya, me of 26 years, I the intellectual, nice, sexual girl which at present searches for serious attitudes - I shall tell more search for the man for marriage!
I only, that have read through your questionnaire and it has very much interested me, I wish to continue to learn you.
So we can have dialogue!

Please reply only my personal e-mail: [e-mail]

I look forward to your prompt answer :)
Nataliya.

As I'm already married ('nuff said), I can't take advantage of this incredible offer, so you can have her.
BTW She's blond, petite, late 20's.
Good Luck