That Google+ Invite May Be Spam: Sophos

Facebook might have its fair share of spam but newly launched Google+, the social networking service is not being spared.

Rossi Fernandes|Jul 05, 2011, 10:25:46 IST

Facebook might have its fair share of spam, but newly launched Google+, the social networking service is not being spared. Just days after its launch, it’s under attack by spammers, Sophos reports. The spam isn’t on Google+, but in the form of e-mails. Google+ isn’t currently open to public, but requires someone with an account to invite you to it. These invites are received by e-mail and spammers have chosen to dress up their e-mails as Google invites. The users awaiting an invite blindly click on them are they are directed to spam sites. Sophos has shown examples where users are led to a pharmacy web site. In the specific example, the site seems to offer cheap drugs as part of a July 4th promotion. Circles on Google Plus

Anything to get on the new service

Sophos has created an account on Google+ called Naked Security, which is the Google+ presence of their security blog. It’s clear that scammers go to any extent to attract people to their sites. What’s even more surprising is that these fake e-mails aren’t marked as spam by popular mail providers.

By Rossi Fernandes

Our resident Hardware Ninja, Rossi, lives for speed - by uhh riding his bicycle. He's Tech2's utility man, dividing his time between cameras, software and intense bouts of Quake III. He's also a fan of all things obscure, case in point, Live for Speed (sic). Never heard of it? We rest our case. In his spare time he tries to teach our new joinees the tricks of the trade even though the blood sweat and tears, but give him a camera and all things forgotten.