We didn’t know about this (possibly because we have enough interesting email to read without bothering with spam), but apparently the new cool thing is to send MP3 spam.

The idea is that stupid people will click it, then hear a voice telling them to buy XYZ stock, and do it.

Ars Technica says:

The files are given innocuous-sounding names like elvis.mp3, oursong.mp3, smashingpumpkins.mp3, or coolringtone.mp3. The payload is disappointing: a voice recording touting the virtues of some corporate stock; in other words, it’s pump-and-dump stock spam in a new format. It’s also a dumb idea. The overlap of those gullible enough to click on MP3 files of unknown provenance and those willing and able to invest in a stock that they’ve never heard of is certainly minute. It’s bound to be more of an annoyance than anything else and seems unlikely to result in the desired stock purchases.

We’re always surprised that spam ever works, but obviously it must. Ars interviewed and expert who says that even though only 8% of email traffic is MP3 spam, it now accounts for 55 percent of e-mail bandwidth. Damn.

55 percent of e-mail bandwidth [Ars Technica]
(Photo:Getty)

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