Junk e-mailers in Asia (Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan etc.) are reportedly using security holes in Western PCs, specifically broadband enabled systems, to turn them into SPAM relays:

These "new breed" spam relays -- computers configured to send out thousands of unsolicited bulk emails -- have become more common as more homes and business install always-on broadband Internet connections, said UK-based security firm mi2g.

Many of these PCs "do not possess even a basic firewall, never mind intrusion detection capabilities", according to the report.

"The other benefit in targeting home computers for spam relay purposes is that they are often issued with dynamic or changeable IP addresses… each time the computer is switched on and the Internet connectivity is activated, a different IP address is allocated… thus making it more difficult to hold the source of the spam to account," it continued.

Sadly there's nothing new about the problem, although the fact that many broadband users still aren't getting the security message is a clear worry.

There's even talk of new laws that could make 'YOU' responsible if somebody hi-jacks YOUR PC for such abuse, which may be taking things a little too far.

Then again, this is the UK, a place where the nanny state appears to want as much control over our lives as possible. More @ ZDNet.