Embedded Gif images SPAM

[rwh]

We have been receiving a lot of SPAM lately that only has an embedded
gif image without any real text in the message. The image typically
describes some "HOT" stock pick. These must be generated from a virus
infected computer somehow but I can't find any information on a new
virus or trojan that would cause this type of activity. Does anyone
know about any new viruses (since the middle of April 06) that would
send out tons of email with these type of embedded images to all of the
infected computers contacts?
Any help, link to an article about the virus would be much appreciated.

 

[William Lefkovics [MVP]]

I don't imagine they are viruses.

They are mass mailing scripts run off unsecured servers usually.
Embedding GIFs as the message content bypasses rudimentary antispam
techniques which scan for key words.

 

[rwh]

I wonder about that since I usually get tons of junk mail on my
personal email account but these are showing up at my work/University,
where I rearely get spam. I am thinking this is some sort of mining bug
that mines a local computer for email addresses and sends this junk out
to everyone on that computer. A lot of people at work are getting these
but there are other Universities I know of that aren't really getting
hit by it. Any one else have any knowledge of what these are from?