More Spam Than Legitimate Email in 2007

By Greg McNevin

April 13, 2007: Everyone knows that the rampaging spam beast is getting out of control, however, according to new research from IDC this year dodgy emails will for the first time outnumber person-to-person mail.

The analysts at IDC are predicting that spam levels will rise to 40 billion message in 2007 - around six for evey person on the planet - due mainly to image-based spam's knack of filter avoidance.

"Spam volumes are growing faster than expected due to the success of image-based spam in bypassing antispam filters and of email sender identity spoofing in getting higher response rates," says Mark Levitt, VP in charge of IDC's Collaborative Computing and Enterprise Workplace research.

Interestingly, and perhaps a bit worrying for those concerned with compliance and accountability, IDC has noticed that the email menace is eroding user trust in the communication medium and encouraging take up of alternative technologies such as instant messaging and VoIP for communications.

Levitt also notes that increased use of instant messaging and VoIP communications services are also contributing to slower growth in legitimate email.

"Instant messaging, joined by free and low-cost VoIP calling, will result in slower e-mail growth, especially among teens and young adults."

With more users than ever using instant messaging and VoIP, many businesses will have to again extend security, archiving and backup services to encompass these new communication services.

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