Unsolicited email has become a major problem that can no longer be ignored. Spam rates continue to rise (see table to the right). Too much time is spent sifting through in boxes looking for potential legitimate email and deleting all the unwanted SPAM.
The recent CAN-SPAM Act has done little to deter spam. "The CAN-SPAM Act appears to have had little immediate effect on the amount of unwanted email offers," said Andrew Lochart, Director of Product Marketing for Postini. "Current Internet technology allows spammers to hide their identity, such that spam can only be fought through a combination of technology and laws."
Our laws can do little to regulate SPAM coming from other countries, so the best possible solution is sophisticated filtering technology. We implement the latest technology to filter your email so you don't have to. Enjoy the following benefits with our SPAM filter:
- Self-Controlled Email Filtering. You control how aggressive your filtering is and who can and can't send you email. Configure specific emails to always be filtered or never filtered. You have control!
- Web Based Management
- Review emails that have been filtered out at any time.
|
Percentages of Total Internet
Email Identified as Spam |
| January 2004 |
79% |
| December 2003 |
80% |
| November 2003 |
56% |
| October 2003 |
52% |
| September 2003 |
54% |
| August 2003 |
50% |
| July 2003 |
50% |
| June 2003 |
49% |
| May 2003 |
48% |
| April 2003 |
46% |
| March 2003 |
45% |
| February 2003 |
42% |
| Source: Brightmail & Postini |
| SPAM: unsolicited email, the use of the term comes from a Monty Python skit where a group began chanting "spam, spam, spam, spam", drowning out all conversation. |
|
Spam Categories
| Percentage
|
Category
|
Description
|
| 22% |
PRODUCTS
|
Email attacks offering or advertising general goods
and services
Examples:
Devices, Investigation services, Clothing,
Makeup
|
| 20% |
FINANCIAL
|
Email
attacks that contain references or offers related
to money, the stock market or other financial "opportunities."
Examples:
Investments, Credit reports, Real estate,
Loans
|
| 17% |
ADULT
|
Email
attacks containing or referring to products
or services intended for persons above the
age of 18, often offensive or inappropriate.
Examples:
Porn, Personal Ads, Relationship advice
|
| 8% |
SCAMS
|
Email
attacks recognized as fraudulent, intentionally
misguiding, or known to result in fraudulent
activity on the part of the sender
Examples:
Nigerian investment, Pyramid Schemes, Chain
letters
|
| 7% |
HEALTH
|
Email
attacks offering or advertising health-related
products and Services
Examples:
Pharmaceuticals, Medical treatments, Herbal
remedies
|
| 6% |
LEISURE
|
Email
attacks offering or advertising prizes, awards,
or discounted leisure activities
Examples:
Vacation offers, Online casinos, Games
|
| 5% |
INTERNET
|
Email
attacks specifically offering or advertising
Internet or computer related goods and services
Examples:
Web hosting, Web design, Spamware
|
| 4%
|
FRAUD
|
Email
attacks that appear to be from a well-known
company, but are not. Also known as "brand
spoofing" or "phishing", these messages
are often used to trick users into revealing
personal information such as email address,
financial information and passwords.
Examples:
Account notification, Credit card verification,
Billing updates |
| 2%
|
POLITICAL
|
Messages
advertising a political candidate's campaign,
offers to donate money to a political party
or political cause, offers for products related
to a political figure/campaign, etc.
Examples:
Political party, Elections, Donations
|
| 2% |
SPIRITUAL
|
Email
attacks with information pertaining to religious
or spiritual evangelization and/or services
Examples:
Psychics, Astrology, Organized religion,
Outreach
|
| 7% |
OTHER |
Emails
attacks not pertaining to any other category |
| Source: Brightmail |
|
