ISP BTO & Brightmail Issue SPAM Stats
Posted: 07th May, 2003 By: MarkJ
BTOpenworld and anti-spam group Brightmail have today issued a joint press release covering the growing issue of junk e-mail (SPAM). Unsurprisingly the ISP uses the opportunity to tout its own defences:
MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF EMAILS ARE SPAM
Unprotected users suffering from junk mail overload, according to BTOpenworld and Brightmail
Nearly half of all emails can be classified as spam, according to BTOpenworld.
The ISP monitored mails sent by its customers between March 17, 2003 and March 23, 2003 inclusive, using Brightmail technology. Of more than 25 million emails scanned, nearly 11 million were detected and trapped as spam. This equates to a weekly average of 41 per cent.
Thursday was the most popular day for spamming, with more than four million examples detected. Sunday polled the highest percentage of spam with the proportion rising to 51 percent of all messages sent. To make matters worse, the filters also detected over 113,000 viruses - one for every 220 mails sent.
The monitoring was carried out as part of a free Email Protection service offered to BT Openworld's unmetered customers. Using Brightmail technology, BT Openworld screens all email before it reaches users' in-boxes. If viruses are detected, they are cleaned using Symantec's AntiVirus technology and detected spam is diverted into a separate spam folder for 15 days, after which it is automatically deleted.
This service offer has been extended to BT Openworld Pay As You Go and BT Broadband Direct customers, as of April 30, 2003. They will be charged £1.00 inc VAT per month, which can be paid via direct debit.
Duncan Ingram, managing director for BT Openworld, said: "The problem with spam is well documented, but to get close to the 50 percent mark is astonishing - and the figure can only increase. The government is looking to introduce legislation to counter this, but it is unlikely to stem the tide sufficiently. The best option users have, therefore, is to protect themselves. That way, they can continue to use email as an effective communications tool without being subjected to the irritation and hindrances that spam brings.
Our aim is to provide customers with the best possible internet experience and that means providing them with the best tools available, whatever package people go for. Security threats and spam are two of the biggest nuisances on the net, which is why we've demonstrated our commitment to the cause by providing customers with a free service," he continued.
MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF EMAILS ARE SPAM
Unprotected users suffering from junk mail overload, according to BTOpenworld and Brightmail
Nearly half of all emails can be classified as spam, according to BTOpenworld.
The ISP monitored mails sent by its customers between March 17, 2003 and March 23, 2003 inclusive, using Brightmail technology. Of more than 25 million emails scanned, nearly 11 million were detected and trapped as spam. This equates to a weekly average of 41 per cent.
Thursday was the most popular day for spamming, with more than four million examples detected. Sunday polled the highest percentage of spam with the proportion rising to 51 percent of all messages sent. To make matters worse, the filters also detected over 113,000 viruses - one for every 220 mails sent.
The monitoring was carried out as part of a free Email Protection service offered to BT Openworld's unmetered customers. Using Brightmail technology, BT Openworld screens all email before it reaches users' in-boxes. If viruses are detected, they are cleaned using Symantec's AntiVirus technology and detected spam is diverted into a separate spam folder for 15 days, after which it is automatically deleted.
This service offer has been extended to BT Openworld Pay As You Go and BT Broadband Direct customers, as of April 30, 2003. They will be charged £1.00 inc VAT per month, which can be paid via direct debit.
Duncan Ingram, managing director for BT Openworld, said: "The problem with spam is well documented, but to get close to the 50 percent mark is astonishing - and the figure can only increase. The government is looking to introduce legislation to counter this, but it is unlikely to stem the tide sufficiently. The best option users have, therefore, is to protect themselves. That way, they can continue to use email as an effective communications tool without being subjected to the irritation and hindrances that spam brings.
Our aim is to provide customers with the best possible internet experience and that means providing them with the best tools available, whatever package people go for. Security threats and spam are two of the biggest nuisances on the net, which is why we've demonstrated our commitment to the cause by providing customers with a free service," he continued.
Latest UK ISP News
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
150,000+ Customers | View More ISPs
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Modest Availability | View More ISPs
Latest UK ISP News
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Large Availability | View All
Helpful ISP Guides and Tips
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
- FTTP (6798)
- BT (3881)
- Politics (3074)
- Business (2766)
- Openreach (2663)
- Building Digital UK (2512)
- Mobile Broadband (2475)
- FTTC (2142)
- Statistics (2127)
- 4G (2092)
- Virgin Media (2024)
- Ofcom Regulation (1779)
- 5G (1732)
- Fibre Optic (1604)
- Wireless Internet (1595)
Sponsored
Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms , Privacy and Cookie Policy , Links , Website Rules