The issue of spam continues to be in the news, as reports of massive hikes in the number of unsolicited junk emails circulating online receive further backing from security experts and monitoring services. Analysis by Postini has shown that spam currently makes up 91% of all email traffic, while there has been a 120% rise in the daily volume of spam over the last year alone. According to recent data, the US is still the top source of spam, with more than 20% of junk emails coming from American networks.

A major problem with the current strain of spam is that it has evolved from being mostly a nuisance, clogging up networks and email inboxes, into a more virulent threat. According to data, the current growth trend in spam is firmly down to the increased use of botnets, as more computers are hijacked by cybercriminals to be made into networks of zombie machines. Spam is now firmly linked to malware distribution and online fraud, and its increased levels mean that the problem is getting bigger, as spam masters are orchestrating bigger and more sophisticated campaigns.