Spam now accounts for 90% of all email traffic, a 5% increase on April when unwanted email hit levels not experienced since September 2007, almost two years ago.
The majority of the increase in spam in May was comprised of messages with very little content other than a subject line and valid hyperlink, according to the latest MessageLabs Intelligence Report. Apparently each hyperlink pointed to a different active profile on one of a number of major social networking environments.
Analysis of web security activity shows that 34% of all web-based malware intercepted was new in May.
One in every 280 emails now comprise some form of phishing attack, a level that has remained unchanged since April.
Hong Kong is the most spammed country with levels hitting 92%, and the hard-hit automotive sector stands as the most spammed business vertical.
MessageLabs’ data also revealed that geographic location determines when people receive spam.
Over a seven day period, US spam was seen to peak between 9 and 10 am local time and a drop overnight while Europeans are more likely to receive a steady stream of spam throughout the workday. Those in the Asia-Pacific region start their day with an inbox full of spam and see less trickling in throughout the day.
