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US still leads global spam list according to BBC article

  • From: Nicole
  • Date: Thu Apr 07 16:04:54 2005

 * US still leads global spam list *
More than a third of all spam e-mails originate in the US, according to a
survey by security firm Sophos.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4420161.stm


US still leads global spam list
Spam: Made in the USA?
More than a third of all spam e-mails originate in the US, according to a
survey by security firm Sophos.

Computers in the US were responsible for more than 35% of global spam, while
South Korea was responsible for almost a quarter of all spam e-mails.

According to Sophos more than 50% of all spam is sent from "zombie" PCs,
computers that have been take over by hackers or virus writers.

The survey comes as spam is reported to be on the wane.

The survey was compiled using the firm's "global network of spam traps".

"Although the USA is responsible for producing more than a third of all of the
world's spam, its percentage contribution has decreased," said Graham Cluley,
senior technology consultant for Sophos.

Deborah Platt Majoras, the US's top consumer protection official, said on
Thursday that data from internet service providers (ISPs) suggested the deluge
of unwanted emails selling sex, drugs and get-rich quick schemes may be waning.

On a visit to Brussels, the head of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
said: "Spam has been a huge problem around the world, not just in these two
continents.

"Recently the ISPs seem to think that less spam is actually reaching consumers'
mailboxes. That's the first good news I've heard on spam, if it's true, since I
started."

Percentage 'fallen'

"The percentage of spam sent from American computers has fallen 12% since the
start of the year compared to other countries," said Mr Cluley.

He said the drop was a result of ISPs enforcing anti-spam policies and a
growing awareness of the need to protect all computers from being hacked by
spammers.

"Businesses and computer users must protect themselves from becoming a zombie
by having up-to-date anti-virus software, firewalls and Microsoft security
patches," he added.

PCs in China sent almost 10% of spam, said the survey, while countries
including France, Spain and the UK were each responsible for between one and
three percent of spam e-mails.





 Nicole



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