CL’S TOP 15 ‘HOT ASS MESSES’ OF 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Since there was some confusion about the last list I posted, I wanted to make it clear that these lists were compiled after I went through every CL post of the year. This isn’t a list of who is the hottest mess, because they all are. It’s a list to show who yall commented on the most, or who we posted about the most. So if you don’t like the list that’s your damn problem.
Anyway, CL Posts STAY flooded with HOT ASS MESSES, so you know this is going to be crazy as hell! I actually had fun putting this one together….
#1: REMY MA

Remy Ma won CL’s 1st HAM of the month title, so it comes to no surprise that she tops the year end list. Who could forget the infamous butt shorts picture (dont’ she look rank?) and my Rick James comparison? I have a feeling Remy is going to top next year’s list too.
#2: GOLDEN BROOKS

Golden HAM was a mess this year. She showed up looking crazy as hell to every industry event I can think of. What’s funny is that she actually thinks she looks good at these things. Sorry girl, you don’t!
#3: A ‘HOTTIE’ MESS

Hottie from Flavor of Love 1 is a joke. Do I even need to explain why she is on the list?
#4: LIL KIM

Lil Kim was locked up for most of 2006, but she still couldn’t avoid being in the top 5 of this list. Plastic Surgery was not her friend and apparently neither was her makeup artist. Damn shame too, because Lil Kim was pretty.
#5: SERENA WILLIAMS

Serena Williams is trying to improve her look and she even pulled it out a few times this year, but it wasn’t enough to get her name off of the list. Fucked up weaves must be a requirement to be in the Williams family.
#6: VIVICA A. HAM

Another hit and run victim of plastic surgery was Vivica A. Fox. She was the epitome of a Hot ass Mess this year when she showed up to industry events RIGHT AFTER she left the doctors office. Not a good look Viv.
#7: JANICE COMBS

Janice needs to put a “comb” through those fucked up wigs, better yet just burn them. She should be ashamed of herself for coming out the house like that, and Diddy probably can’t tell her anything either. Come on Janice, get it together. You’re too old for this shit.
#8: STAR JONES

I know some of yall remember when I posted these beach photos of Star and Al. Those shots were just one of many for those two. Star has stepped her game up, but I had to give her credit for her hamabilities.
#9: WENDY WILLIAMS

Wendy Williams or Noxeema Jackson, you be the judge? Wendy Williams is always a mess, I don’t think she can help herself. I can’t knock her hustle though, but I do want to knock those fucked up weaves from off her head.
#10: NAIMA

Naima was very HAMFUL earlier this year and then she got her shit together. So when she showed up with her “new look” at a recent event, I was terribly disappointed. Whatever though, I still like her.
#11: SHAR JACKSON

Shar had the nerve to show up to an event with an ashy back and elbows. That is a damn shame, and so is her lack of ‘ass’ets.
#12: MS. JAY ALEXANDER

I didn’t think that it was possible to be fierce and look a hot ass mess at the same time, but Ms. Jay has proved me wrong.
#13: K-CI

Whenever I’m down, I just go to CL and look at these K-Ci photos and suddenly I feel a lot better. He needs to sit his ass down somewhere. [PHOTOS BY: SANDRA ROSE]
#14: COUNTESS VAUGHN

Speaking of asses, remember when Countess Vaughn told the world that she got butt implants? What’s funny is that she took these pictures post-surgery. Looks like the surgeon is the one who came out on top.
#15: TISHA CAMPBELL

Tisha looked a mess at every event she went to this year. And it looks like she had a allergic reaction to something too..
HONORABLE MENTIONS
JAHEIM

This picture of Jaheim is a classic, I don’t care what anyone says. We only made like 3 posts about Jaheim this year, but I still remember the infamous crooked preacher look.
KHIA

Khia just looks like she smells.
ROBERTA FLACK

I didn’t know whether Roberta Flack was walking the dogs, or if the dogs where walking her ass. But I do know that she was wrong for coming out the house like that. And don’t blame her old age for this mess either.
BEVERLY POO

Beverly Poo..Beverly Who? I still don’t know who the hell she is, but when she showed up looking like a cracked out clown at this VH1 event, she went down in HAM history.








299 Comments
COMMENT PAGES: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All
151.
YUMMYMUMMY
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
I agree with #51, Dennis Rodman deserves a mention, other than that, youa re on poin!!
152.
YUMMYMUMMY
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Whoops meant “you are on point”!!
153.
makeupmanm
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
SHE’S A GREAT PERSON TO KNOW…………….THE PICS JUST AREN’T A GOOD LOOK……..I STILL LIKE HER
154.
momo
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
i couldnt wait for this list. lookin at all the hamtastical people of ‘06 is just wonderful. imma miss ‘06. *tear*
155.
Drama Queen
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Hope you’re happy now CL- you done gone and blinded me now. Lord that was HAMtastic!
156.
Diana
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
This is sooo wrong…I am cracking up. My fave is the one of Wendy holding the sign and Angel getting creative with it. All those ppl need to be on there.
157.
Such Magnificence
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Wow all I gots to say is WOW!!!
Lol…this is ON POINT!
158.
nunyabisznaszz
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
you know what thisz list isz on point gurl! Jim Jonesz’ BALLIN prolly came out too late to put on thisz list b/c everybody know that that wasz the song lol
159.
Wysteria
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Um..85. You need a full length mirror before calling anyone else a ham. Indeed, those listed are hot ass messes-funny as hell too. But you sho’ll is giving Golden Ham a run for her money with that circa 1985 Salt-N-Pepa coif.
*Aaahh, PUSH IT..Aaaah PUSH IT..P-P-PUSH IT REAL GOOD (new remix by S-N-P featuring ALSGYRL on the 1s and 2s)
LMBAO!!!!! Hoe, welcome to a 2006 and update that busted ass ‘do before you comment on ennybody..
160.
Khinje
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Frank Waters said:
K-Ci, bruh, you look like a drunk cancer patient at a party. *****************************************************
That shit almost made me fall out of my chair!!!!
LOL LOL LOL LOL
Oh yea #149!!. Angel.la PLEASE add that pic of
K-Ci with the waterfall/perm/flip so some of the newcomers can see that he is consistantly a HAM.
Dat shit was funny as hell!!!!
161.
Confucius
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Wait….Is Beverly Poo a woman? I am so agreeing with this list. Happy Holidays everyone…..
162.
Khinje
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Khia’s face, teeth, hair, and stretch marks…UGH!!!!!!!
163.
tianni
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
LMAO!!! (all the way on the SCROLL down!) HILARIOUS! & I agree with every single one!
REMY MA: needs to either get rid of the COTTAGE CHEESE ass and theighs, or start covering it up!
GOLDEN BROOKS: she was a H.A.M. back in these photos, but she is one that truly improved shortly after these pics was taken.
HOTTIE: needs a breast LIFT. Because to have DOUBLE D or TRIPLE D breasts is one thing, but when they are FLABBY, or drop to your WAIST and knees when the BRA comes off that is just NASTY
LIL KIM: is my girl!! She comes from where I come from & the whole 9. But for the year 2007, she needs to hire a REAL MAKE-UP ARTIST, & WARDROBE STYLIST. (or learn to professionally apply make up her own self!
SARENA WILLIAMS: She needs to STOP PLAYING, and GET IT TOGETHER! Her and VENUS are plain REDICULOUS! c’mon now.
VIVICA: was a H.A.M for a while this year, but LATELY, I am glad to see that she has IMPROVED “ALOT” before this year finished. her face & lips looks better, her breast implants are not HARD like ROCKS anymore. (APPLAUSE)
JANICE COMBS: She needs to call up “PATTI LABELLE”, and take up some MAKE-UP & HAIR ADVICE. Those HORRIBLE blonde WIGS, & CONTACTS are TERRIBLE. Somebody should have told her “something”.
WENDY: LOL. For 2007 she needs NEW HAIR (that’s CALM) & to stay stay out of the PLASTIC SURGEONS OFFICE.
KHIA: this CHICKEN HEAD, has NO SHAME! When you have STRETCH MARKS from a previous PREGNANCY–it is far from cute to EXPOSE them. Since you didn’t prevent them prior to being pregnant, cover them up because they are permamnent! She loos so nasty. uuuugh!
164.
sha sha85
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
I agree wit this list all the way! Remy AND golden brooks should have shared that #1 spot!! LMAO, they look a hot mess!
165.
monie luv
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
My top 5 HAMs from this list are:
(in definite order)
*Serena Williams
*Remy Ma
*Lil Kim
*Hottie
*Naima
because they are just hard to look at.
166.
qtfromok
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Uh Angel La,
You did great with the post, but what’s up with the no warning before clicking on the post sign. LOL
167.
shakyfries
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Ok, So I Finally Saw Dreamgirls… And SOHH Soulful Top 5
Yesterday I went to the “Dreamgirls” Roadshow. You know the one where you pay $25 for this Broadway theater effect. The $25 includes a 50 page color booklet, no previews, an authentic movie poster and some other random swag.
I’ll just break down what I thought of people’s performances.
- Eddie Murphy: Amazing.
- Jamie Fox: Good job
- Anika Noni Rose: My favorite in the movie. She deserves more praises.
- Jennifer Hudson: Great voice, not an actress. She steals her scenes because the movie was written to glorify that role. Amongst the ensemble cast she was just OK. Great voice, but playing the role of an angry black woman doesn’t garner the acclaim she is getting. And I don’t begrudge her any success, but I expected a whole lot more based on her hype.
Beyonce: Not as bad as they say. She nails the essence of Diana Ross. Nails it. Not Sasha, not Beyonce but Diana. And dammit if pretty is a talent, the she got it…. hands down.
The other members of the cast did their thing as well. But to all those that are in love with J. Hud and throwing daggers at Bey need to slow their roll and think about it first. Both Jennifer and Beyonce are playing themselves essentially. So if you see this film don’t let your heartstrings for the character or the characters triumph keep you from seeing that everyone carried their weight and Bey is far from just a pretty extra.
168.
suthernbell1028
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
thank you i needed a good laugh for my b-day
169.
jscene
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
oh my damn, i can’t even comment on these pictures.
170.
holliewood
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
I Will Have To Buy A Vowel BCuz “O” My God!!! LOL!!!
171.
NAYOMI
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
yeah they all look like shit
172.
Eulady
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Uh..167, in case you haven’t noticed, this post is not about Dreamgirls. I could really give a f*ck less. Boy, stans are ridiculous!!! You paid $25 for that bullshit???? Oh my god, so, what did you spend on ya mama for Christmas? You dropped some change at the local Dollar General store, huh? That’s sad.
The movie and it’s stars are so OVERRATED, OVEREXPOSED, OVER-HYPED, OVERPAID and any other “over” I forgot to mention.
Geez, get a f*ckin life!!! Get off Bee’s, Jennifer’s, Jamie’s, Eddie’s and Diana’s sexual genitalia!!!!
173.
Nonya
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
THESE CELEBRITIES MAKES MONEY AND MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK A HOT ASS MESS LIL KIM IS UGLYYYYYYYYYYY
THEY ALL ON DRUGS FOREAL ITS A SHAME THEY GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUT DONT KNOW WHAT TO WITH THEY MONEY BESIDES SNIFFING AND GETTING IMPLANTS SAD ASS PEOPLES WHEN THEY CAN BE GIVING SOME MONEY TO THE YOUTH HELPING THESE DAMN KIDS , STOP KILLING EACH OTHER. YALL FEEL WHAT IM SAYING RIGHT ?????
174.
Kiaa
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
LMAO!! WOOW ,THIS LIST WAS GREAT!!!
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE ‘WTF MOMENTS’ OF 2006 LIST !!
MERRY X-MAS EVERYBODY AT CL AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
175.
Kitten
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Remy Ma looks like her ass stinks !
176.
lynn
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
Hottie and Khia should have been tied for the #1 spot
177.
chocolate thunder
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
i know i done laughed my ass off these pics r ridiculous. damn jaheim really do look like a crooked ass preacher i didnt know that was him, and vivica and kim im like jamie fox u had 2 be on something 2 fuck ur face up like that i mean both of yall were pretty aint no going back from plastic surgery. remy cover up that cellulite ass and those ugly ass legs, ur not a pretty girl and u make urself even ugly. tishas head and lips have gotten bigger over the yrs. and puffy dress nice he need 2 give his mom some tips cause she aint near pretty. and i thought serena was finally looking cute now she went back 2 looking like a man. hottie does look a hot ass mess. and khia look like her ass stink with them mess up teeth. and finally 2 u shakyfries just when i thought i had xscaped a site that mention beyonce u had 2 bring it up this is about people looking a hot mess not beyonce if u want 2 lick beys ass when she wont even spit on u if ur ass was on fire go 2 a site that mentions her this aint the one damn im tired of hearing that bitches name
178.
SHAY
Saturday, December 23, 2006 /
What the hell Golden Brook looks like a damn fool, and kc that shit is funny as hell i needed this laugh.
179.
Regina
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Girl put on some close that look so disrespectful!!!…
180.
TeTe
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
lmao..couldnt argue with this list.khia should’ve been after remy Mess and i’ll never forget that picture of shar..she just a fucked up mess
181.
Ione
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Khia looks the worst! She looks unclean and need to stop with the numerous wardrobe malfunctions.
182.
SHAY
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
ALL DEM IS A HOT ASS MESS
183.
ChillyJ
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Somebody please give Khia a good scrub down!!
184.
chris739
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
I agree with EVERYONE that you listed, they are all A HOT ASS GHETTO STANK GARBAGE BAG MESS!!! But you forgot FANTASIA, she has been a HOTT ASS GHETTO MESS at every event also. I think she deserves honorable mention. HELL NAW, i take that back, dat bytch needs to be on the list A.S.A.P
185.
Mr.803
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
this is tha best list
186.
Clearminded
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
What kills me is that everybody is so PROUD (well except Ms. Roberta Flack) of their look. You can’t tell none of these negroes that they didn’t look F-O-I-N-E when they stepped out the door. Self-deception is a mutha.
187.
REBEL
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Great List!
188.
wendy
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
lol i couldnt stop laughing at the comments after each photo, luv this post haha.
189.
skrib
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
man…khia should’ve been on the top 10 cuz her ugly ass deserves the lifetime HAM award
190.
LisaLisa
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Does Hottie have a thyroid condition?
191.
DatDude
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Just looking at Khia and Remy Ma makes me feel like I caught a damn STD.
192.
joanne
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
w t f?? as a black, im ashamed
193.
Dazzo
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Is it just me, or is this the best site EVER! I’m so glad I stumbled upon it. Keep up the great work, always keeps me laughin’
194.
Risha
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
Wow!! I’m so sorry from all of these people on this list. You guys definately got in right. Everyone single person on here is ugly as and look like and look like they smell like HELL!!!! I hope to never meet any of thses people.
195.
chocsweethrt
Sunday, December 24, 2006 /
this post…made my whole damn day! hahaha i cant jus point one out but I was shocked at Jaheim and Khai for showin her stomach like dat!
196.
Ebeezy
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
Damn Khia need to get her eyebrows waxed…or nair them bitches one….and Shar Jackson is shaped like spongebob square pants yo…damn…and Remy ma…lets just say ur cuzin doing ur weave for free aint always worth it…damn…
197.
ethiopian_princess
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
My choices:
1. Hottie - just look at her
2. Remy Ma - just look at her
3. Mrs. Combs - with all that $ and a designer son, you need to know better
4. Naima - America’s Next Top Mess
5. Wendy - For someone who talks about people, you’d think she’d get her ish together
6. Star - look, her excess skin is going nowhere and she’s still on her high from the weight loss. She’ll soon see the light.
7. Vivica - fix your nasty tittie and stop f—ing with your face. And the wig? BOO
8. Ms. Jay - Actually, should be #1. Ashy mo fo
9. Serena - she can’t help her bone structure
10. Khia - nasty ho
11. Shar - she don’t have time to look good with all those babies. She has NO booty. wow.
12. Big Kim - jail will f— you up
13. Golden - boo, but def not top 10 mess
14. K Ci - put your shirt on, lookin like a kid on the Christian Children’s Network ad.
15. Countess - no boo. stop
198.
TIFFANY
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
-remy ma look like a straight up beast! that bitch is ugly as fuck and need to get rid of that 1980’s two toned wig she be sportin’
-GOLDEN BROOKS look like a transvestite. who the hell is her so-called stylist?
-HOTTIE look like a crackhead trying to to be sexy
4-i don’t know what the hell happened to lil’ kim? She use to be hot! Hollywood done got to her head all fucked up. she straight fucked up her face. Now she look like a damn circus freak! Damn shame
5- serena look like a man, she needs a REAL stylist to do her hair and give better wardrobe.
6-vivica need to sit her old ass down some place! she look nasty as hell
7-JANICE COMBS look like a damn jackass! Why does this woman continue to walk around looking like that? It’s not fucking cute. She look like some old ass prostitute. And can someone please tell her ass that she is black and not white! looking like a damn fool wearing that clown ass blonde wig and blue contacts
8-star jones just looks nasty, point black period! She look like a badly beaten animal
9-wendy Williams=transvestite
10-NAIMA was born a boy
11-SHAR JACKSON look a mess from head to her flat ass! What the fuck is that an extension of her back? Lol. Jergin’s lotion is on sale at walmart
12-MS. JAY ALEXANDER is one ugly ass bastard
13-k-ci crack is wack! Leave it alone
14-COUNTESS VAUGHN need to get her money back. Her ass still looks flat
15-tisha Campbell look like a swollen frog
-I always thought jaheim’s shrek looking ass was ugly
-Khia is nothing but a gutter butt ugly dirty ass hodrat.
-ROBERTA FLACK look like the mother of shrek
199.
D
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
Now we all know why K-fed left Shar Jackson! What’s the point of being with a black girl with no booty? That’s false advertising! And countess vaughn will get my dick in her ass!
200.
flatbush
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
I know Shar Jackson’s ass wasnt ass flat as a pancake on Moesha. WTF Happened?
Isnt Cauntess Vaughn her close friend, They starred un Moesha together. Shar should tell Countess Vaughn(who got butt implants) to help a sista out
201.
futurelover
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
Wolo #126
OMIGOD!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Ya’ll Please click on #126. Khia is truly HAMilicious in that pic. Her tities are hideous. What the f@ck was she thinking? Her nipples and areola are bigger than her whole titie. The white guy behind her was disgusted.
202.
samai
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
hilarious. i been laughing for five minutes before i could type this. black people know just how to tell you about yourself.
countess vaughn’s ass mustve been concave if she paid good money for that ish.
i don’t think kim shouldve been on here. we’ve known for years she had issues with the knife. she ain’t pull nothing new on us this time.vivica could vouch for that.
ms. flack has found some exclusive crack. k ci is on his own down hill spiral.
beverly hasn’t gotten the hood rat completely out her system.
i know you can’t help what body you’re born with but shar could afford to have bought some dove moisture even if it wasn’t on sale.
khia probably has every std from a-z in her saggy chest alone. i wonder if anybody ever was proud of being with her. she needs some jail time.
bug eyed betty from fol 1 shouldve been #2. how some people get on, ill never know.
golden has naturally fukked up features. she just needs a stylist to play them down. thats her new years investment tip from me.
angel u are on point. time for you to get your own show.
203.
yoyoyo
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
can u hav stress marks on your stomach? referin 2 khia…she should of been numba one
204.
yoyoyo
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
o yea who da fuck is beverly poo? what she did in her lifetime?
205.
MEESHI
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
ALL OF THEM LOOK FUCKED UP REMY LOOKS LIKE A MAN LIL KIM IS A DOPE FIENE STAR JACKSON LOST MAD WEIGHT AND UGLY AS FUCK THEY ALL NEED JESUS IN THEY LIFE
206.
Star
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
hotie just looks like shes gonna kill u with them scary ass eyes im gonna have nightmears
207.
MISTA MONSTA
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
LMFAO!!!!!! THIS LIST IS TOO FUNNY. ESPECIALLY KHIA, SHE LOOKS SO……WOW, NO WORDS LOL SHE SHOULD’VE BEEN IN THE TOP 15. ANGEL, SHE REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE SHE SMELLS, & DID YOU SEE HER TEETH?? THEY GOT F^CKED UP WRITTEN ALL OVER THEM LOL IS IT JUST ME OR DOES BEVERLY POO LOOK LIKE REMY & JANICE COMBS’ DAUGHTER IF THEY WE’RE CAPABLE OF HAVING ONE??? LMFAO!!!! SHE LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM PUT TOGETHER WHICH MAKES HER A DOUBLE HOT MESS
208.
MISTA MONSTA
Monday, December 25, 2006 /
*WERE
209.
POBOI
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
WHOA!
I’ve seen Tisha look worse, so she aiight in this one.
210.
FairGame
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
Yall are crazy! That list was tooooo funny!
211.
SEXY
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
I like Serena but she has to have the ugliest weaves.
Ms. Vaugn…well, at least she doesn’t have cellulite.
Tisha…is just not a pretty woman…period.
Ms. Combs…you are not white.
Lil Kim…I know she had to look scarier in person b/c all of your make-up usually doesn’t show on camera.
Khia…my breasts, my tats, my Ugh just like that.
Roberta…you didn’t know if the dogs were walking her…LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!
212.
LilMamaKatz
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
Lmao. These are all so Hot Ass Messes.
god dammit. Whats wrong wit dat Hottie’s eyez? thats disgusting..EEWW Beverly Poo n Khia n Roberta Flack all make me throw up.! Remy Ma looks the best out of dem messes.
213.
njsweetface
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
Thank God dat Wendy Williams is in der cuz she is a hott mess and she had da nerve to talk Shyt about Angie Martinez…Please dat bitch is nasty!! ANGIE IS DA SHYT!!
214.
diane
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
I agree with everyone on your list especially Golden Brooks, Remy Ma, and Janice Combs. You hit the nail on the head with everyone, but you forgot to add 1.
Why isn’t Mariah Carey on that list?
215.
Caitlin
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
Very, very good list. I’m impressed lol!! This is a job well done. Khia, please sit down.
216.
htx
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
these folks on this list are sad…Maaann!! WTF!!
217.
bill
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
ID theft growing concern for MySpace users
By GARY GENTILE
BW Exclusives
MySpace devotee Kary Rogers was expecting to see a gut-busting video when a friend from the popular online hangout messaged him a link. First, though, he was directed to a page where he was supposed to re-enter his password. Rogers realized that someone was trying to steal his information, and he didn’t take the bait. At best, he would be spammed with junk e-mails; worse, the Web thief might steal his real-life identity.
“I immediately went back and changed my password,” said Rogers, 29, a network analyst for Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss.
MySpace bills itself as a “place for friends.” Increasingly, it is also a place for unfriendly attacks from digital miscreants on the prowl, luring users to sexually explicit Web sites, clogging mailboxes with spam messages and playing on the trust users have when speaking to “friends” to obtain passwords that could lead to identity theft.
Managing the risks that come with rapid growth is an enormous challenge for MySpace, now part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. media conglomerate. The site can’t afford to drive away users, who might defect to one of a growing number of alternative sites, or advertisers, who pay top dollar to reach the growing MySpace audience.
Last month, MySpace inched past Yahoo Inc. in U.S. page views, recording 38.7 billion, according to comScore Media Metrix.
A key reason behind the popularity is its ease. Simply by adding a few lines of computer code, users can create elaborate profiles and personalize them with photos, music and video. A host of communication tools makes it easy to send messages to one person or a whole list of friends, who number into the thousands for some of the more popular MySpace users.
Those same tools can be used by vandals to make it look like an innocent user has sent spam to the same long list of “friends.”
Programmers are writing scripts that take advantage of specific features on MySpace, including “friend request,” where one user asks to be added to another user’s list of buddies.
One recent scam works this way: A spammer posts a number of phony profiles featuring pictures of cute women, often promising nude photos. A “friend request” with the woman’s photo is sent to hundreds of users.
Once the fake profile loads, a blue screen descends, saying the profile is protected by the “MySpace Adult Content Viewer.” Unsuspecting users who try to download the viewer instead get a worm that installs adware on their computers.
Social-networking sites make good targets because of the implicit level of trust users have when they’re interacting with “friends.”
“The ongoing interaction lowers your reservations and security barriers,” said Marc Gaffan, an expert in online fraud and security at RSA, the security division of EMC Corp.
MySpace, which News Corp. bought last year for some $580 million, has recognized the threat and is stepping up security efforts, said Hemanshu Nigam, its chief security officer.
The company is rapidly expanding its team of software engineers, lawyers and other experts who look for suspicious activity, educate users on how to prevent attacks and go after the worst offenders.
Under Nigam’s direction, the company recently formed a Content Assurance Team. Employees post fake profiles on the site, pretending to be vulnerable teens or clueless adults. The profiles are designed to keep tabs on everything from sexual predators to spammers.
MySpace also is preparing to launch a more aggressive education campaign, urging users to take care and use tools that restrict the viewing of their profiles to only trusted sources.
When all else fails, the company is also files civil suits and is increasing cooperation with law enforcement officials.
“We’re trying to take away the ‘cool’ factor of trying to attack us,” Nigam said.
Nigam came to MySpace after stints as a federal prosecutor specializing in child pornography and computer crime cases. He also led security efforts at Microsoft Corp. and the Motion Picture Association of America.
MySpace hired him in May to strengthen security and safety efforts at the site and other Internet properties owned by Fox Interactive media.
“Security is a top priority because it’s critical for our community of users and for our business partners,” Nigam said. “If advertisers feel uncomfortable being on a site that is seen as not as secure, not as safe, then we lose revenue.”
So far, no major damage has been done on the site, although some users, increasingly annoyed by the fake friends and messages, are seeking other social networking alternatives.
“I don’t have this problem on Facebook,” Rogers said, referring to another popular site.
The Internet has weathered several threats over the years, but as users move on, so do the attackers.
Writers of malicious software used to count primarily on e-mail recipients to click on attachments to spread their wares. As e-mail recipients got more savvy, the writers looked to automate the process by exploiting vulnerabilities in e-mail programs, browsers and the Windows operating system from Microsoft Corp.
As those security holes get closed, virus writers are looking elsewhere, including social-networking sites, attractive in part because of their size.
“It’s where the activity is and the attackers play the percentages,” said David Cole, director of security response at Symantec Corp. “They go after the largest market share where there is the most activity.”
——
On the Net:
MySpace safety tips:
http://www1.myspace.com/misc/safetyTips.html
218.
TISha
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
WHY?!?!? IS COUNTESS VAUGHAN ON THE LIST?!?!/ COME ON SHE DOESN’T LOOK BAD AT ALL. I THINK ICE T’S WIFE, COCO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST. AS WELL AS SOLANGE KNOWLES, TRINA, AND LIL’ WAYNE.
219.
THE TRUTH
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
Namia might have some fucked up hair styles, but she still fine, I’ll still hit that. She shouldn’t be on that list.
But mostly everyone else is FUCKED UP beyond being able to fix!!!!
Hottie from flav & Lil Kim would give me a heart attack if I saw that face first thing when I wake up.
SCARY SHIT!!!
220.
David
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 /
britney spears/K-fed exscaped this list because?
221.
sasha
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 /
Khia’s stomach looks loke a map.
222.
fashiongurl
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 /
I saw Jaheim in concert in this picture at the Essence Music Festival. Believe me we were joking him hard!!!
His hair was straight when he got there but he was sweating so hard that it drew up into an Afro by the time he finished! HAM indeed!!
223.
sasha
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 /
my bad that should be “like”.
224.
KI KI
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 /
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD ANGELA BUT I’D GIVE COUNTESS A BREAK!
225.
oak cliff that my hood
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 /
this is just sad they look lil kim looks so bad
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