Many people consider computer and smartphone malware to be an everyday fact of life about which they can do little but be vigilant: a nuisance they must do their best to evade by whatever means necessary. Those behind the messages containing computer viruses and other malware may generally be reviled but are often thought of as faceless criminals who are beyond the reach of physical authorities. Whilst this may well have been the case in the early days of computer malware, it is most certainly not true in the 21st century. Just a couple of weeks ago, a citizen of Indiana, USA, was sentenced to over 2 years in prison for his part in sending illegal text messages and emails across the globe.
Legal End Does Not Justify Illegal Means
Those who received the illegal messages were directed, through links contained in texts and emails, to online Cost Per Action networks. These networks are run by marketing firms and are used to collect personal information from visitors, such as email addresses and cellphone numbers. What the marketing companies who run these networks are doing is completely legal but unfortunately for Philip Fleitz, the Indiana man who received a 27-month custodial sentence for helping to direct traffic to the networks in question, using spam messages to send traffic their way is not. Mr Fleitz was one of around a dozen US residents arrested by the FBI as part of an operation that took down Darkode.com, a site that acted as a marketplace where cybercriminals from all over the world could market their IT skills for illegal gain.
Staying off Mailing Lists
If you wish to stay off the mailing lists compiled by marketing companies such as those behind the Cost per Action networks in question, it is important not to follow links in messages you receive from unknown senders. If you are using some type of anti spam software, such as our highly effective gateway, you are highly unlikely ever to be bothered by messages distributed by cybercriminals such as Philip Fleitz. Nevertheless, it pays to have your wits about you whenever you access the Internet, whether via a smartphone, laptop, tablet computer or a traditional desktop PC.
Worldwide Operation
While the principal defendants in this recent case were based in the US, residents of 19 other countries were also caught in the FBI’s web. Marketing spam and malware is a global business and the location independent nature of the Internet has previously helped those behind malicious messages to evade capture. However, as government authorities in countries around the world become more au fait with digital technology, it is becoming harder for cybercriminals to carry out their activities unmolested by the forces of law and order. This is undoubtedly good news for smartphone and computer users everywhere but it would be unwise to let your guard down yet: cybercriminals, in common with their counterparts in the physical world, will always try to stay one step ahead of the authorities and are unlikely to be disappearing anytime soon.