Millions of People Knowingly Open SPAM Email
How many users access spam emails, click on the links found within, and open attachments intentionally? Why are they doing it, and who are they holding responsible for the spread of malware and spam in general, while conveniently excluding themselves?
A newly released survey from the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG), summarizing the results of the group’s second year survey of email security practices, offers an interesting insight into the various interactions end users tend to have with spam emails.
Key findings of the survey:
- Nearly half of those who have accessed spam (46%) have done so intentionally – to unsubscribe, out of curiosity, or out of interest in the products or services being offered
- Four in ten (43%) say that they have opened an email that they suspected was spam
- Among those who have opened a suspicious email, over half (57%) say they have done so because they weren’t sure it was spam and one third (33%) say they have done so by accident
- Canadian users are those most likely to avoid posting their email address online (46%). Those in the U.S., Canada and Germany are most likely to set up separate email addresses in order to avoid receiving spam
- Many users do not typically flag or report spam or fraudulent email
- When it comes to stopping the spread of viruses, fraudulent email, spyware and spam, email users are most likely to hold ISPs and ESPs (65%) and anti-virus software companies (54%) responsible
- Less than half of users (48%) hold themselves personally responsible for stopping these threats
It’s interesting to see the paradox of end users blaming ISPs and antivirus vendors, whereas 43% of the surveyed users said that they have accessed spam emails, and that they do not typically flag or report these emails.
What the majority of the survey participants appear to be unaware of, is that, despite the fact that since early days of spam, spammers have been attempting to verify the validity of the emails, by attempting to unsubscribe themselves, the users are confirming that their email is valid. In short, it means even more spam. (read more of this article)
The best way to block 98% of SPAM destined for you mailbox is to sign up for Secure Mail by Prime Networking. (Read More)
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