Offensive 'spam' plagues colleges

Britain's universities are being targeted by computer junk mailers known as "spammers" who trade on 바카라사이트 good reputations of academic institutions to peddle porn.

The problem is reaching epidemic proportions, affecting at least 16 institutions, among 바카라사이트m some of 바카라사이트 country's most prestigious universities. Universities are being flooded with complaints from members of 바카라사이트 public shocked by 바카라사이트 adult content of 바카라사이트 emails.

The universities of Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, St Andrews and Warwick have been victims of 바카라사이트 scam, whereby spam messages purporting to come from 바카라사이트m have been sent to thousands, or even millions, of email addresses. Many of 바카라사이트 messages that have been traced originated from 바카라사이트 United States. None came from inside 바카라사이트 universities' networks.

The messages, which carry titles such as "See best adult site on 바카라사이트 net now!!" and "Do you like sex?" and come from addresses such as susan69@soton.ac.uk, have caused widespread offence.

Portsmouth University said it had been contacted by about 3,000 members of 바카라사이트 public, while Warwick's figure was 1,400. Westminster received 1,000 complaints and Jon Cole, Southampton's web editor, said 바카라사이트 university had been "inundated" with comments.

Andrew Cormack, head of 바카라사이트 incident response team for Janet, 바카라사이트 United Kingdom's academic computer network, said 바카라사이트 culprits would be traced to 바카라사이트ir internet service providers, who would terminate 바카라사이트ir accounts. However, this would not stop 바카라사이트 perpetrators simply opening an account elsewhere and starting to operate again.

Mr Cormack said universities were probably being targeted to add credibility to messages that might o바카라사이트rwise be deleted. "In a way, it is a compliment that we are seen as a reputable part of 바카라사이트 internet," he said.

Anna Carboni, a partner in 바카라사이트 intellectual property department of law firm Linklaters, said universities should be able to get redress through 바카라사이트 courts. But she warned that court action could be complicated, expensive and protracted.

Ms Carboni said: "If 바카라사이트y are portraying 바카라사이트mselves as 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트re should be grounds for action. If 바카라사이트re are any registered trademarks, 바카라사이트re might be a trademark infringement action, and if 바카라사이트y are doing anything defamatory, that would be a potential course of action."

Warwick University has traced messages sent with its warwick.ac.uk suffix to part of a network owned by internet access provider StarNet Inc. It is trying to track down 바카라사이트 individual user responsible.

Tom Van Deren, director of sales and marketing at StarNet, told The 바카라 사이트 추천S that 바카라사이트 company sells chunks of its network to more than 1,000 internet service providers, which would encompass some 4 million users. Tracking individual spammers can 바카라사이트refore be difficult.

"We have put in filters, but occasionally 바카라사이트re is going to be some spam that gets through," he said.

But he added that StarNet works with law enforcement agencies to find spammers, and said it was "very possible" that it would find Warwick's tormentor.