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Survey: 52 Percent Have Clicked On A Spam Email

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We all get spam. Some of us get tons of the stuff and so, we recognize it more easily. When someone tries to sell me Viagra, I know not to click. Mostly because I'm a woman and have no use for that sort of thing, but also because I'm not a fool and those kinds of emails just scream spam-scam. Apparently not all of us can spot spam a mile away.

A recent report by Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG) shows that there are plenty of people willing to respond to the trashy emails that land in their inbox every day. MAAWG conducted hundreds of interviews across the country. Those interview were folks with email addresses not managed by a corporate IT staff and the results are pretty unbelievable.

More than half said they had clicked on a spam email and 12 percent said it was because they were interested in the product being peddled. MAAWG reported that two-thirds of the group said that they were very or somewhat experienced with Internet security, and a majority used filters of some kind in order to avoid spam. Eighty-two percent were aware of bots and botnets, however not many believed they were at risk of being victimized by one.

Have you ever tried to buy something from a spam email? Let us know!

Read the full store on Ars Technica.

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Gin Fushicho 16 July 2009 23:52
    Buy something? no. get a fake job? yes. xD Bastards. Glad my Credit union is smart.
    Reply
  • talys 17 July 2009 00:03
    All this means is that 48% of respondents lied. Nobody who uses email has *never* opened a piece of spam mail. As in, never, ever even once did they click on a piece of spam by accident.

    Heck, with preview panes it's impossible for me to go half a day without seeing some spam -- if only to delete it.
    Reply
  • SAL-e 17 July 2009 00:29
    talysAll this means is that 48% of respondents lied. Nobody who uses email has *never* opened a piece of spam mail. As in, never, ever even once did they click on a piece of spam by accident.Heck, with preview panes it's impossible for me to go half a day without seeing some spam -- if only to delete it.I think there is a bit misunderstanding here. I open the spam emails in order to understand the latest scam, but you have to use e-mail client that have safe mode. The problem occurs if someone using old OutLook Express that automatically loads all images and executes JavaScripts. The user gets owned on the spot.
    The real problem is that many users are continuing to click on the links embedded into the spam emails and get redirected to bad web sites. The main reason why we get so much spam is because the spam works and makes money for the spammers. Once we educate the users or come with effective technology to block them (very unlikely) the spam will become all most none existing, but until then I am going to continue to win lottery every day. Lucky me! :D
    Reply
  • frozenlead 17 July 2009 01:07
    Survey: 52% of people who use email have no common sense.
    Reply
  • fulle 17 July 2009 01:35
    frozenleadSurvey: 52% of people who use email have no common sense.
    According to this article... 12 percent. Don't tell me you haven't clicked on a spam email before. I mean, who doesn't want bigger fuller breasts?
    Reply
  • ColMirage 17 July 2009 01:35
    I click on spam mail all the time. Usually that means I have a good day. Great laughs to be had with the "royaltee" of other countries.
    Reply
  • kittle 17 July 2009 03:45
    bleah surveys only say what people want them to.

    Have I ever opened spam email? - yep
    Have I ever clicked on some of the links? - yep
    Been burned by said link? - yep
    ever bought anything? - No.
    Reply
  • doomtomb 17 July 2009 08:55
    Ever tried to buy something in a spam email, nope. All I see in my spam box on my gmail account is stuff about buying pills for a bigger dick. Sorry, I'm not that insecure or foolish to buy that crap.
    Reply
  • zak_mckraken 17 July 2009 22:41
    Have I ever opened spam email? - yep
    Have I ever clicked on some of the links? - yep
    Been burned by said link? - No.
    ever bought anything? - No.

    I followed a couple of links in the past, out of curiosity and I might do so in the future. I'm always willing to see how the scamers do to lure people. Putting out their fake pharmaceutical site or copying my bank's site in order for me to put in my password. Some are really good but anyone with moderate computer knowledge will see that there's something fishy.
    Reply
  • anamaniac 19 July 2009 19:49
    I like to check out my spam. =D
    Got some spam in Manderin (Chinese) and so I went as far ass to translate it just to cure my curiosity.
    Apparantly my online banking in a eastern Canada bank was having issues and I had to login in to it... looked very legit... I LOVED IT! Professional spam... one flaw, that bank doesn't even exist in my city...
    Reply