Vista: spam’s new target

Anti-virus vendor Sophos has warned of a new image-based spam campaign offering end-users a cut-price edition of Microsoft's Vista.

Image-based spam is often used for promoting stock pump-and-dump scams or drugs to help with weight loss and sexual performance.

However, in the latest campaign image spammers are offering a bargain edition of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, Sophos has said.

The spam email claims that the recipient can save US$319.05 by downloading Windows Vista today.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos said this particular spam campaign added the ability to generate random pixels to make the graphic slightly different on each sending.

Users are also being told to type in the name of the website rather than clicking on a link - a telltale sign of a spam email, he said.

"Approximately 30 percent of all spam now uses images to try and sneak past anti-spam filters. Computer users need to ensure that they have strong defence in place or they will continue to be bombarded by nuisances like this,” said Cluley.

It is unclear whether acting upon the spam would furnish the computer user with a pirated edition of Windows Vista or simply steal their credit card details, he said.