Fighting malware and spam

Storms put the wind up spammers

Significant decline in the volume of spam messages seen in the days immediately following the three recent hurricanes.

Email security firm FrontBridge Technologies Inc. reported a significant decline in the volume of spam messages seen in the days immediately following the three hurricanes that hit the South East coast of the US in September.

Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne each had the same apparent effect on spam levels, with the day the hurricane hit and the day following the hurricane showing the most significant dips in spam traffic. Hurricane Frances appeared to be the cause of spam volumes falling from 89 per cent to below 82 per cent; Hurricane Ivan saw spam fall from 91 per cent to less than 84 per cent; and Hurricane Jeanne saw the number of spam messages drop from 89 per cent to 83 per cent. However, despite the wobbles of hurricane season, FrontBridge also recorded a record peak in spam volumes of 91 per cent in September, with a monthly average of 85 per cent - an increase of three per cent from August.

29 October 2004

Tags: spam