Survey Finds Email Spam Not the Problem it Once Was for the End-users

Seventy Two Percent Receive Fewer Than Ten Spam Messages Per Day

Tettnang, Germany, May 24, 2011 – IT security expert Avira found during recent surveys of its customers that email spam is still an everyday occurrence, but not the nuisance it once was. Nearly half of all end-users are satisfied with the anti-spam filters on their PCs and laptops, plus many others rely upon their Internet Service Provider (ISPs) to filter messages. The vast majority of users receive fewer than 10 spam emails per day.

Survey questions were presented to Avira’s 100 million customers worldwide during the months of March and April, 2011.

Do you use anti-spam on your PC or laptop?

1. 45% – Yes, and I am satisfied.
2. 10% – Yes, but I am dissatisfied.
3. 26% – No, but I would if there was a good product.
4. 19% – No, I am using a solution that is part of my Internet provider’s service.

2,329 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 2.03 percent.

How much spam do you receive on a daily basis?

1. 72% – 10 email messages.
2. 18% – 25 email messages.
3. 4% – 100 email messages.
4. 6% – Over 100 email messages.

2,236 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 2.07 percent.

“The Spam landscape has clearly changed in the last two years with the take down of a couple of major botnets,” said Sorin Mustaca, data security expert at Avira. “Considering the fact that almost all email providers have a form of spam filtering installed on their servers, end-users receive only what the anti-spam solutions on the servers don’t catch. What really surprised me was that 45% of the users answered that they have an anti-spam solution on their computers and that they are satisfied with it. Overall, there is clearly work to be done within the security industry to get rid of 100% of all spam emails, but progress is being made.”

The larger security challenges today include fighting web-based Trojans and spyware that harvest credit card numbers and personal identity information. “But I still don’t recommend anyone clicking open spam emails, as many of them are linked to malicious websites. It’s always best to stay safe from unknown links and emails“, said Mustaca.

About Avira

Avira wants its customers to ‘live free’ from spyware, phishing, viruses and other internet-based threats.
The company was founded 25 years ago on Tjark Auerbach's promise to "make software that does good things for my friends and family." More than 100 million consumers and small businesses now depend upon Avira’s security expertise and award-winning antivirus software, making the company the number-two market share leader globally. Avira provides IT-security protection to computers, smartphones, servers and networks, delivered as both software and cloud-based services.

In addition to protecting the online world, Avira's CEO promotes well-being in the offline world through the Auerbach Foundation, which supports charitable and social projects. The philosophy of the foundation is to help people to help themselves.

For more information, please visit www.avira.com or join the community at www.facebook.com/avira.