Spam figures show continued increase in unwanted mail

Spam continues to make computer users' lives more stressful - clogging up even more inboxes in December than ever before.

According to anti-spam firm Brightmail the amount of spam being sent worldwide is still increasing month-on-month, with December showing a seven per cent increase over November's levels.

In terms of its share of total email traffic, spam broke through the 40 per cent barrier for the first time - meaning a staggering four in every 10 emails sent is unsolicited. This time last year spam accounted for only eight per cent of all email traffic.

These unprecedented levels of spam are also starting to take their toll on computer users' patience. Something which was a mild irritant 12 months ago is now becoming a plague for many who rely upon email on a day-to-day basis.

A report from Brightmail reveals that 80 per cent of all of internet users it surveyed claim to be 'very annoyed' by spam emails - up from 49 per cent in a similar survey conducted in mid-2000.

Unsurprisingly 'adult' spam is driving much of the growth - accounting for a greater share of the 'market' with every month. In December adult spam - such as teasers for porn sites or offers of trial subscriptions to 'XXX' services - accounted for 16 per cent of all unsolicited mail.

December saw financial services (26 per cent of all unsolicited email) - with subject lines such as 'Consolidate your debts now' or 'Your mortgage has been approved' - toppled as the biggest source of spam, with product promotions (31 per cent) now the most prolific irritant.

Scams, such as the notorious Nigerian money scam (see http://www.silicon.com/a55205 for more), accounted for six per cent of all spam.