The six country, 6,000 respondent survey carried out by analysts
Forrester Research also reveals that more than 90% of UK on-line
consumers receive spam; that 37% of people are worried that
spammers will steal personal information, and 40% of people feel
that spam is harmful to on-line security.
Twenty-two percent of UK consumers have purchased computer
software through spam, according to the BSA - only just short of
the top spam seller, clothes and jewellery, which 23% of UK
respondents to the survey admitted to purchasing.
UK leisure and travel related spam purchases followed close
behind at 20%, while 18% of consumers had made purchases from
finance-related spam.
Worldwide, said the BSA, computer software topped the list of
purchases made from spam (27%), this time followed by clothes and
jewellery at 24%.
"Many on-line consumers don't consider the true motives of
spammers," warned BSA spokesman Mike Newton. "In addition to
profiting from selling goods and services and driving click through
ad traffic, organised crime rings use spam to gain access to
personal information."
Spammers are targeting consumers by selling what appears to
genuine software, but may secretly contain spyware, Newton
explained. Once installed on the PC or network, the spyware can
allow information given over the internet to be obtained and
abused.
"Both industry and the media have helped to raise awareness of
the issues that surround illegitimate e-mail, helping to reduce the
potential financial damage and nuisance from phishing attacks and
spoof web sites," said William Plante, senior director of corporate
security and fraud protection for security firm Symantec.
"At the same time, consumers need to continue exercising caution
and protect themselves from harm with a mixture of spam filters,
spyware detection software and sound judgement," he added.
