Press Release
Instant Messaging Spam, or 'Spim,' Threatens Enterprise and User Security, Warns FaceTime
'Impact over Volume' Effect Compounds Spim's Nuisance Factor According to IM Security Solutions Pioneer
FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 6, 2004 - Furthering its leadership as the premier provider of solutions that secure, manage, and extend instant messaging (IM) and other forms of real-time communications in the enterprise, FaceTime Communications today warned of spim's ability to compromise network security as well as the information security of both enterprises and users.
The recent "Osama Found" adware campaign and Bizex worm attack demonstrated just how easily instant messaging users could be manipulated to open their computers to intrusion. "Osama Found" was new in that it leveraged IM buddy lists to propagate its message, effectively rendering white-listing useless. Users clicked on the link they received, believing they were messages sent by trusted contacts. The Bizex worm delivered instant messages directing recipients to a Web site that stole financial information found on their computers.
The company also emphasized that while spim occurs less frequently than spam, spim's impact is far more detrimental to user concentration and productivity. While email spam may slow productivity over time, spim immediately interrupts user activity each time it appears on the desktop, rendering it more disruptive at lower volumes.
FaceTime IM Director™ is the only solution that controls these and other forms of spim through the combination of sophisticated content filtering capabilities and a patent-pending challenge-response mechanism. Both features work to intercept spim before it reaches the desktop without compromising legitimate messages or slowing down the sending and receiving of messages. Organizations requiring additional features that ensure their IM use is in compliance with SEC, NYSE, NASD, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, HIPAA, FERC and other government regulations can purchase
IMAuditor™, which provides the same comprehensive spim blocking capabilities.
"Spim is clearly a public nuisance and much more disruptive than email at lower volumes," said FaceTime President and CEO Kailash Ambwani. "But worse are recent spim campaigns that have exposed certain vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to compromise network security and the information security of both businesses and users. FaceTime allows customers to embrace the business productivity and cost-saving benefits of IM by intercepting spim before it reaches the desktop. And FaceTime is committed to working with the public IM networks as part of the collaborative effort that is required to halt the proliferation of spim altogether."
About FaceTime Communications
FaceTime Communications enables the safe and productive use of instant
messaging, Web usage and Unified Communications platforms. Ranked number one by
IDC for four consecutive years, FaceTime's award-winning solutions are used by
more than 900 customers – including nine of the 10 largest U.S. banks – for
security, management and compliance of real-time communications. FaceTime
supports or has strategic partnerships with all leading public and enterprise
IM network providers, including AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Skype, IBM and Jabber.
FaceTime is headquartered in Belmont, California. For more information visit
http://www.facetime.com or call 888-349-FACE.
The FaceForward blog, at http://blog.facetime.com,
offers thoughts and opinions about the changing nature of Internet communications.
PR Contact:
Emily Chamberlin
650-762-2945
echamberlin@ar-edelman.com
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