[ insider_reports_insider ]
Smog: Spam Comes To Games
David Utter
Staff Writer
2007-06-06
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
While the issue of spam in multiplayer online games isn't as massive as the general spam problem, there are spammers who plague gamers with their ads for services.
 | | Smog: Spam Comes To Games |  |
Those services aren't ones the game operators look kindly upon, either. Offering gold, items, or leveling in exchange for cash is generally against the terms of service for online games.
The potential for profit outweighs that TOS concern for many illicit entrepreneurs. To advertise their services, Symantec researcher Ron Bowes said they use 'smog', spamming inside the multiplayer online gaming environment.
One such message offered approximately 10 gold pieces for one dollar, and free character advancement for approximately $10 per day (for a process that takes up to 20 days).
Assuming the spammer has automated tools that perform "gold farming" and character advancement, and tools that can improve multiple characters in parallel, this could be a profitable activity.
Game operators have been fighting back against these activities. Some provide spam reporting features. Bowes said Blizzard has implemented a login protocol called 'Lockdown' that keeps bots from logging into the Battle.net servers.
"This problem is still, at best, minor," Bowes wrote. "But as online games become increasingly popular, the battle between the spammers and the game companies may also increase."
---
Tags: Smog, Spam, Online Gaming
About the Author:
David Utter is a business and technology writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
More insider_reports_insider Articles
Insider Reports RSS Feed
|
|
iEntry 10th Anniversary
RSS
Archive
