Do RSS feeds come equipped with security risks?

There’s no doubt that Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds from Internet sites large and small are wildly popular among both Web publishers and consumers. But while there is typically discussion of security when it comes to email, browsing, instant messaging, and other popular Internet communications, RSS feeds may become a vehicle for adware, spyware, or worse with little attention, according to some security experts.

Richard Stiennon, vice president of threat research at anti-spyware company Webroot, is among only a couple of voices who warn that RSS — which conveniently delivers aggregated content from various sites without the need for email clutter — may soon be carrying some unexpected and unwelcome pieces of code.