Spam deluge continues as junk mail swamps users

The latest figures show that more than 40 per cent of all email traffic is spam - unsolicited mails offering the recipient everything from 'Natural Viagra' or 'low interest loans' to a share in an unclaimed Nigerian fortune.

Out of 25 million emails scanned during a one week period by US anti-spam firm Brightmail, more than 11 million were classed as spam.

Duncan Ingram, managing director for UK ISP BT Openworld, which commissioned the Brightmail study, said: "Security threats and spam are two of the biggest nuisances on the net. The problem with spam is well documented, but to get close to the 50 per cent mark is astonishing."

And it's a problem which Ingram doesn't believe is going to subside anytime soon. "The figure can only increase," he said. "The government is looking to introduce legislation to counter this, but it is unlikely to stem the tide sufficiently."

Enrique Salem, CEO of Brightmail, said: "Definitely by the end of the year we're going to see a situation where more than 50 per cent of email is spam - if not sooner. It could even be by the summer."

He added: "This trend will continue until we can create enough of an economic disincentive - making it cost-prohibitive for the spammers."

However, if the meteoric rise of spam continues unchecked, Salem fears for the future of email. "So far users have been able to overcome the increasing levels of spam, but if the proportion of spam hits 90 per cent then I think it will make email unusable."

In separate research, Brightmail revealed a 4.5 per cent month-on-month increase in spam during April. The figure for the month is 61 per cent up on April 2002 - showing the alarming rate at which the spam problem has spiralled out of control.

The major problem areas remain fairly predictable - with 'adult' still among the largest contributors to the spam deluge. Adverts for premium rate phone lines, and solicitations to subscribe to pornographic websites or view 'XXX' webcams, still feature heavily in users' overloaded inboxes.

In total 'adult' spam accounted for 19 per cent of all spam emails, while financial services - such as 'consolidate your debts now' or 'your mortgage has been approved' - accounted for 20 per cent.

Email scams, such as the notorious 'Nigerian' 419 scam accounted for nine per cent of all spam.