Is your PC a Zombie spammer?
According to both MX Logic and Messagelabs, between 60 and 70 percent of all spam is being sent from compromised or Zombie PCs that have been hijacked by malware.
MX Logic said that during June, 62 percent of all spam came from zombie systems while Messagelabs claimed the figure is closer to 70 percent. Both companies said the problem is worstening, with MX Logic reporting that spam from zombie systems accounted for 55 percent of spam in May and 44 percent of spam in April.
“The continued proliferation of zombie PCs has levied a heavy cost on ISPs and e-mail end users. Compromised PCs have resulted in millions of e-mail users being unknowingly blacklisted, often through no fault of their own,” said Chasin.
Installing anti-spam software and regularly checking for viruses and spyware can assist in protecting your computer from becoming an easy target for spammers. Don’t allow your computer to be used as a tool to send unsolicited email.