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Who says spam problems already cured? Not at all or even getting worse, as we can see happening daily (when we happened seeing) to our colleagues’, friends’ or boss’ mailboxes (or your own mailbox, too?). At very least, the same founding concluded in a recent survey in US from Nucleus Research and KnowledgeStorm reported below.

The report found spam costing US businesses $712 per employee annualy in lost worker productivity. Despite aggressive spam filter technology, 66 percent of email messages reaching user inboxes are spam

According to the survey of 849 email users conducted during March 2007, Nucleus Research and KnowledgeStorm found that two out of every three email messages received by today’s business users are spam. As a result, users are spending 16 seconds identifying and deleting each spam email, which translates into an annual cost of $70 billion to all US businesses.

“Although most organizations have utilized some spam filtering technology, clearly it has not solved the spam problem. Spam is no longer just a technology problem – it’s a problem that we should be attacking with more than just technology.â€?, a VP of Research at Nucleus Research, Rebecca Wettemann quoted as saying.

From the report we also found a tip, that in our real daily email to be cautious and avoid using the word “Nigeria”, as name of this country in Africa is on the top of keyword blocked by many spam filter. If found in subject or body of message, the email may be blocked as being suspected to be a spam.

Some other key findings in the report include:

• Looking at the total email traffic, it’s estimated that at least 90 percent of email reaching corporate servers is spam.
• The average user receives 21 spam messages to their inbox each day.
• The most common types of spam identified by respondents were adult oriented solicitations (86 percent), financial lending solicitations (80 percent), and retail offers (76 percent)
• Respondents are beyond frustation over their spam-laden mailbox problem. Almost 20 percent of respondents believe jail time is an appropriate punishment for serial spammers

If yours or the ones you care’s mailbox ladened with spams, I can offer you the following tips. Just please be careful in applying them, as you may risk in losing valid authorized emails.

Tips what to do if you received spam

• First rule and most of the time always true: ignore spam.
  Acting the wrong way may make more spams coming in your mailbox.
• Use email software with built-in or 3rd party installed decent spam filter.
  Being integrated built-in spam filter will simplify in filtering spam. Continuous update in spam database, anti-spam technics will ensure the spam filter to work with the latest best available methods.
• Turn on images block feature in your email.
  This images if on can be an indication for spammers to identify your mailbox is actually active, that further encourage the spammers to send more.. spam. So turn it off by default until you recognize it’s a legitimate email.
• Delete junk email messages without opening them. Sometimes even opening spam can alert spammers or put an unprotected computer at risk.
• Don’t reply to spam unless you’re certain that the message comes from a legitimate source. This includes not responding to such messages that offer an option to “Remove me from your list.” Do not “unsubscribeâ€? unless the mail is from a known or trusted sender.
• Update your email junk mail program and email filters. Spammers continually try new tricks, trying to bypass anti-spam technologies.
• Don’t give personal information in an email or instant message. It could be a trick. Most legitimate companies won’t ask for personal information by email.

Tips continued on next page, also more tips to avoid spam coming in your mailbox..

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