Simpsons spam and Potter worms flood web

Experts warn that criminals are using this summer’s big books and films as means to churn out spam and worms to victims. Spammers and cybercriminals are exploiting movie-goers with junk emails and viruses riding on the back of this summer’s blockbusters. While news of Harry Potter spoilers circulate the internet, spammers are also exploiting interest in the Simpsons Movie out next week. Spam is flooding recipients’ inboxes with offers of a $500 (Ł250) gift voucher to fill out a Simpson’s related online survey.

The email features a picture of Homer sat on his couch wearing a Superman top and underpants. A caption on the picture reads: “Will you go see the movie The Simpsons? Take our short survey now.”

Clicking on the image in the email takes the victim to a web page featuring a similar picture which asks for an email address.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant of anti-virus firm Sophos said that entering an email address hands this personal information to a spammer “on a platter”.

“You would be as crazy as Krusty the Clown to enter an email address on that page,” he said. “By confirming your contact address you are helping the spammers and increasing your chances of being deluged by junk email.”

While Harry Potter books fill the shelves of bookshops and supermarkets in preparation of the midnight launch of the last in the series of the teen wizard’s adventures “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, worms and viruses are still plaguing users interested in lightening-scarred boy.

The last couple of weeks have seen the re-appearance of Hairy.A worm that has been developed by hackers to take advantage of the new book’s popularity among children and adults alike. The worm infects USB drives and plants a Word document purporting to be a leaked copy revealing key details of the plot and which major characters get killed off in the end.

If the document is clicked on, instead of the story, the worm creates new user identities on the victim’s computer based on the three main characters - Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter himself.

Chillingly, a message also appears on the screen telling the victim to “repent from your evil ways lest ye burn in hell”.