For the first time iMessage spam is being regulated

Annoying status quo received daily spam

"The Company Bank of the major banks credit <overdraft card>, 5-8 world card, no pre-cost, unsuccessful no charge. Contact number 158 ******** Wang." This is the iPhone mobile phone users Mr. Liu received an iMessage push advertising, and such advertising information, he received a few pieces every day. "There are sellers, it is recommended to download the APP, and made annoying."

In fact, similar to this spam, most iPhone users have encountered. And spam messages sent by SMS is different from spam messages sent by Apple iMessage, the sender is not a cell phone number, usually 163, hotmail and other mailboxes or 10655027 beginning of a string of long numbers, content and more types Marketing mainly covers immigration study, lottery, real estate, financial products, APP application download.

Reporters found through surveys, these iMessage push spam content, "on behalf of the invoice," the rare, more of real estate, cars and other advertising. "IPhone phones even receive spam messages that are taller than most phones," one user joked.

"And Andrews mobile phone can download a variety of security software to intercept different, Apple's APP download and application does not have the function of intercepting spam, which makes me really no better way to handle this information." Ms. Fang iPhone users complain Road.

Apple responded to the user can screenshot email report

Not long ago, Apple released its latest iOS 8 system, the most significant change comes from iMessage. The new version of iMessage adds group capabilities, as well as the ability to send voice and short video messages, which are generally similar to WeChat. From another perspective, however, iMessage is also likely to encounter a greater number and form of spam attacks as it morphs.

For the management of iMessage spam, Apple's current move is to encourage users to report. Apple customer service said users can send spam screenshots to iMessage.

spam@icloud.com, there will be specialized staff to deal with. However, since the entire reporting process needs screenshots, indicating the sources of spam, sending emails and other processes, and the users receive spam messages from different sources daily, reporting each involves a lot of effort, so expecting to report the user's own actions actually Unrealistic

Another problem that makes iPhone users feel extremely troublesome is that although Apple added a blacklist function to iMessage in the new version of iOS, these spam messages are basically "send waves for an account," so the blacklist is also useless.

Industry Secret 3 to 10 days to recover the cost

Like ordinary spam, behind the iMessage spam, also hides an astonishing profit chain, push various types of advertising information to iPhone users, has become a way for some people to get huge profits.

According to report, push junk messages to iMessage, mainly through two ways to achieve. One is the sender to buy a large number of second-hand iPodtouch (Apple iOS devices, the lowest price products), as a mass device to other iOS users to send spam; the other is to buy a special sending device, even the Internet cable And monitor, you can automatically push information to Apple users.

As for the iPhone user's iMessage account, access to the same simple, some App will read and privately record the user's AppleID, and then packaged it for sale; In addition, specific software can also be used on the Apple device to scan for those who have Activated iMessage account information, and even the user's mobile phone number. According to informed sources, at least tens of millions of iPhone user information is in the hands of iMessage spammers.

From some iMessage advertising agencies to understand the price point of view, push an iMessage ad offer, due to the total amount of different send different, usually in the 0.1 yuan /, the amount of large cases, the minimum can be 0.03 Yuan / Article level. From the cost and revenue point of view, a second-hand iPodtouch can buy a few hundred dollars a day can send thousands of advertising messages, basically 3 to 10 days to recover the cost; and a dedicated sending device requires two to three million Yuan, can send tens of thousands of pieces of information everyday, basically can recover the cost in a dozen days too. "Unlike other cell phone text messages, iPhone users have a higher spending power and advertisers are having greater demand for delivery," said one person in the industry.

Difficult to manage operators difficult to play a role

From the experience of containment of ordinary mobile spam messages, telecom operators play an important role in the tight control of source ports, but this is not the case when dealing with iMessage spam messages.

As iMessage is equivalent to an instant messaging software, it is used in WiFi or 3G networks, and does not pass through the conventional carrier SMS channel. ZhuYiPeng 360 mobile security experts said that for traditional spam, operators can set up tools in the system to intercept, and iMessage not send through the carrier, so operators can do nothing about it.

Governance strategy

It is hard for operators to play a role, and third-party security software that shields users from spam messages or harass them on other handsets can not count on it. According to the reporter, Apple's APP rules for management, does not allow on-line APP applications call the phone's security permissions, so as to intercept communication content. In other words, Android devices, users often use to intercept junk SMS 360, Tencent, NetQin and other security software, the version in the Apple APP, does not have spam SMS blocking function. This makes it impossible for users to control iMessage Spam through a third party.

Thoroughly rely on Apple control

It is understood that in the second half of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will carry out "Net Screen 2014" special campaign to further control spam messages to cut off the chain of interests of spam messages. Among them, the Ministry of Industry proposed to promulgate the "Regulations on the Management of Short Message Service" to provide law enforcement basis for the management of spam messages, formulated and promoted the implementation of the "Short Message Service Platform Linkage Platform" and other 8 anti-spam SMS technical standards.

In the management of spam related documents, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed that basic telecom operators should follow up on new techniques and measures for monitoring and guarding new situations such as iMessage spam and harassing calls. This is the first time MIIT has included the issue of iMessage spam in the scope of regulation.

Li Yi, secretary-general of China Mobile Internet Industry Alliance, said that Apple is the operator and control side of iMessage. In addition, it does not have the security right to open the system. Therefore, in order to really manage iMessage's junk information, the root cause ultimately falls on Apple Body.

Lee Yi believes that spam is a very "Chinese characteristics" thing, for Apple, is not a universal problem facing the world, while Apple to iMessage information more stringent regulation, or even the introduction of the key Word shielding and interception is the need for a considerable degree of input, for Apple itself, not much initiative to do it. Therefore, in this matter, we need the relevant state ministries, such as the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Public Security and other joint communications with Apple to jointly negotiate a solution to the problem. "This must go directly to the government level and Cook (Apple CEO) to communicate and communicate directly, I believe at this level of cooperation, Cook will not refuse to provide the appropriate services to users in China."

The existing methods of coping with the recommendations all have their own drawbacks

Before the introduction of Apple's cure, for domestic iPhone users, there are some ways to control iMessage's spam. Phone technologists have suggested several ways to deal with iMessage spam.

Only show friend info reminder

This method is very simple, users only need to find in iOS settings - notification - information, and then find "iMessage reminder to display" check "My Personal Address Book" to complete. In this way, only the contacts in the address book sent iMessage information will be reminded, and sent through the ID of the mailbox are not displayed. However, there are drawbacks to this setting, that is spam still exists, but there will be no reminder; In addition, if the user is outside the user directory other than normal iMessage information will be intercepted.

Close iMessage directly

For those who do not use iMessage iPhone users, the direct closure of iMessage function is a once and for all solution. The operation mode is setting - notification - information, find "close iMessage", of course, this method to remove spam harassment at the same time, also means that normal users can not get in touch with you via iMessage.

After jailbreak with third-party software

Due to Apple's regulations, third-party security software can not be placed in the information shielding function, but the domestic security vendors still found a workaround. According to reports, users can 360 Mobile Guardian iPhone Professional Edition to intercept such junk messages, while access to SMS with shopping links, but also to help users identify whether the fishing site. However, the premise of downloading and installing iPhone Professional Edition is that you must first "jailbreak" the phone. Some of the other security-like mobile apps are similar to 360, which provide iMessage spam blocking in "jailbreaking" situations.