MAAWG - One in Six Internet Users Fall to Spam E-mails

A latest study funded by Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG), an industry-wide security think tank, claims that nearly one out of six consumers have responded to spam mails at some point of time, representing the fiscal incentive for attackers, as reported by PCWORLD on July 14, 2009.

The survey was carried out on almost 800 web users in Canada and the US who were asked about their system safety practices habits along with information of present security issues.

Revealing the details of the latest survey, security experts said that those users who accepted to opening of a harmful spam mail claimed that they were interested in a service or product or wished to see what would happen if they opened the spam mail.

Security experts added that it was due to a large number of replies that made spamming a lucrative business because spam generates money at a swift pace.

Almost 80% of people surveyed by MAAWG claimed that they believed that their system would not be targeted by a bot or any harmful software that could send spam, capture data or other dangerous activities, said the Chairman of MAAWG's Board of Directors, Michael O'Reirdan, as reported by PCWORLD on July 14, 2009.

Another interesting discovery was that almost 63% of users surveyed said that they would allow remote access to their systems to remove malware. For now, this idea is under hot discussion in the security community, which is struggling with how to manage the botnets.

Meanwhile, another issue pointed by MAAWG is that the security think tank will soon issue a set of guidelines for Internet Service Protocols (ISPs) that help them how to fight against botnets. It is learnt that some ISPs are creating automated systems that can cut off a web access from a system if the machine is containing malware. Consumers will also get instructions on how to repair their systems and download security software. When their PC is clean, they are reinstated full access to the web.

Related article: Mac OS X Devoid of Malware, Vexing Experts

» SPAMfighter News - 29-07-2009

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