iMessage Spam

iMessageSpampng
iMessage is the Apple messaging system that lets folks send short messages to one another over WiFi. In December I received my first iMessage spam.
I’m not even really sure how to report it or how to report it to.
Mobile spam is a hot button issue right now, but the tools just aren’t around to control SMS, iMessage and TXT spam like there is with email. And even though sending unsolicited messages to a mobile device is against several laws here in the US, there does seem to be a core of spammers that continue to send.

Images, again
First BACN, now SCRAPPLE

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The technology for blocking and reporting SMS spam is comparable to email blocking technology 10 or 12 years ago. There just aren’t many tools for people to use to control this spam. M3AAWG is addressing mobile spam, but it still seems that the volumes are increasing without much recourse. Even the 7726 reporting number doesn’t seem to stop the spam (nor remove per-text charges).
At least in the beginning of the email spam problem, we didn’t have botnets. Now, at the beginning of the curve for SMS spam, we already have self replicating botnets. I’m afraid the good guys might be behind on this issue.
Then again I might just be cranky because SMS spammers woke us up at 4:30 am.
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