Microsoft files lawsuit over Messenger IM spam

Microsoft has decided enough is enough when it comes to phishing and spamming on Windows Live Messenger. Redmond has filed a civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of Washington against a company it believes conducted a significant campaign to undermine the privacy of Windows Live Messenger customer accounts and IM spamming (often referred to as spimming) contact lists. The complaint (PDF) alleges that Hong Kong-based Funmobile, its US subsidiary Mobilefundster, and several individuals, used instant messaging spam to deceive people into turning over sensitive information via links to phishing sites that mimic a third-party service, or an official Microsoft support page. Then the process would restart by sending spim and phishing messages to the victims’ contact lists.

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