Get ready for spim: instant messaging applications face new vulnerabilities.When an Internet user Internet user n → internauta m/f Internet user Internet n → internaute m/f in California recently received a contrived Instant Messenger AOL's instant messaging service. See AIM and instant messaging. message that Osama bin Laden Osama bin Laden: see bin Laden, Osama. had been captured, it contained a link that apparently led to a breaking news report, but instead brought him to a site offering a game to download. Had he taken the bait, as others did, he would have inadvertently installed spy software Spy software (also known as "Computer Monitoring Software" or "keylogger") secretly records a computer user by capturing all keystrokes, websites visited, and chat conversations. that would track his Web habits, barrage him with pop-up ads, and trigger a virus to resend the invitation to everyone on his buddy list A list of colleagues, workgroup members, friends, etc., that you might wish to communicate with via instant messaging. See instant messaging. . Since the message "came from someone I personally knew," he says, "I clicked on the link right away" but didn't download the game. Such reflexes are exploited in new schemes that send spam as IM-borne messages called "spim." The crackdown on spam e-mail by lawmakers pushed spammers to try new delivery methods, and instant messages are the latest targets. Spim brings new risks to the Internet through unleashing viruses, creating back doors into computer systems that can be accessed at a later time, and transmitting links to pornography. But as districts already struggle with escalating levels of e-mail spam 1. ^ James John Farmer (27 December 2003). 3.4 Specific Types of Spam (FAQ). An FAQ for news.admin.net-abuse.email; Part 3: Understanding NANAE. spamfaq.net. Retrieved on 2007-01-05. 2. ^ You Might Be An Anti-Spam Kook If.... , ironically, this new online threat is growing even faster. Spim is expected to triple from 400 million messages in 2003 to more than 1.2 billion messages this year, says Sara Radicati, president of the technology market research firm The Radicati Group. IM in Schools IM is fast becoming one of the most popular online communications applications through free Internet-linked services including AOL Instant Messenger See AIM. , MSN Messenger Microsoft's instant messaging (IM) service, which provides text messaging and voice calling. Part of the MSN Network, MSN Messenger clients are available for non-XP versions of Windows, Mac, Pocket PC and MSN TV. For Windows XP, the IM client is Windows Messenger. , Yahoo Messenger and closed local networks such as WiredRed. Surveys show that among online users, almost three-quarters of teenagers use IM, and half of all adults have tried the services. IM technologies in schools allow users to have live text-based chats among students, teachers, administrators and parents for instructional as well as informational purposes. Records of conversations can be filed and printed, such as reports on meetings, and handheld devices including cell phones and PDAs can link users on school trips and at sports events. Furthermore, most of the services also transmit voice and video for multimedia communications. I use IM almost daily for planned and chance conversations, and for group discussions without paying for conference calls. While some school districts have overreacted to the risks by banning the use of instant messages outright, such shortsighted short·sight·ed adj. 1. Nearsighted; myopic. 2. Lacking foresight. short  sight views close down the potential to explore exciting new applications for the powerful technology. For example, the Fordyce Public Schools in Arkansas integrated IM into the district Web site so users can communicate instantaneously with their technology and maintenance departments. Similarly, the employees in Missouri's Kirksville School District are all linked through instant messaging, and they claim the use has dramatically increased communications efficiency among principals, teachers and staff. In addition, the independent Benjamin School in North Palm Beach Florida uses instant messaging in place of a traditional P.A. system to send information to staff members without interfering in the learning process. Addressing Weaknesses Unfortunately, spim will continue to grow, so districts need to adopt defensive measures for school and personal IM applications. Guarding screen names, never clicking directly on included links and blocking incoming messages from unknown senders are examples. New anti-spim software products are also starting to reach the market, and as each major service provider creates IM software to better catch spim, it is essential to update to new versions. However, all Internet content we read, send or receive carries risks, so that should not deter us from moving forward with new technologies. Your staff needs to be informed about the potential as well as the vulnerabilities of instant messaging. Web Resources * AOL Instant Messenger www.aim.com * Ferris Research www.ferris.com * Fordyce Public Schools redbugs.dsc.k12.ar.us * MSN Messenger messenger.msn (1) (MicroSoft Network) A family of Internet-based services from Microsoft, which includes a search engine, e-mail (Hotmail), instant messaging (Windows Live Messaging) and a general-purpose portal with news, information and shopping (MSN Directory). .com * The Radicati Group www.radicati.com * Yahoo Messenger messenger.yahoo.com Odvard Egil Dyrli is senior editor and emeritus professor of education at the University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut is the State of Connecticut's land-grant university. It was founded in 1881 and serves more than 27,000 students on its six campuses, including more than 9,000 graduate students in multiple programs. UConn's main campus is in Storrs, Connecticut. . |
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