17 November 2005
Timeshare spammer finds himself a new home in jail

Peter Moshou has received a one year jail sentence.
Experts at Sophos have welcomed the news that a man known as the "Timeshare spammer" has been sentenced to one year in jail under the United States CAN-SPAM act.
Peter Moshou, 37, has been sentenced to spend 12 months in a federal prison, and will have to pay $120,000 in fines. The man, from Auburndale, Florida, sent millions of unsolicited spam emails advertising brokerage services for people interested in selling their timeshares.
By forging the "from" address in emails he sent, using deceptive subject lines, failing to provide an unsubscribe option, and other offences, Moshou fell foul of the CAN-SPAM act which has also successfully snared other spammers.
"In their search for a quick buck, spammers don't mind making life more miserable for millions of internet users. We applaud the law enforcement authorities for pursuing this case through to its conclusion," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "The 'timeshare spammer' will have plenty of time to reflect on his crimes now he's behind bars."
Sophos recommends companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution which can defend businesses from the threats of spam, spyware and viruses.
- SQL injection attacks are the biggest threat
- 90% of malware on legitimate sites
- Hackers exploit Web 2.0
About Sophos
Sophos enables enterprises all over the world to secure and control their IT infrastructure. Sophos's network access control, endpoint, web and email solutions simplify security to provide integrated defenses against malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse, data leakage and compliance drift. With over 20 years of experience, Sophos protects over 100 million users in nearly 150 countries with its reliably engineered security solutions and services. Recognized for its high level of customer satisfaction and powerful yet easy-to-use solutions, Sophos has received many industry awards, as well as positive reviews and certifications.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com

