Brits get 400 spam messages a month

The study, from price comparison website moneysupermarket, indicates that despite being spammed every day, the survey reveals nine out of 10 (90 per cent) adults do not protect themselves against spam by automatically filtering their emails. This leaves them open to potentially dangerous messages.

81 per cent say the spam messages they receive are a nuisance, with the most common types of spam messages being sales (35 per cent), phishing (27 per cent) and pornography (16 per cent).

Although spam is widely seen as a nuisance, one in seven (14 per cent) people admit to acting on, or replying to, a spam message. The under-twenties seem to be the worst offenders with nearly a fifth (17 per cent) admitting to acting on spam.

James Parker, commercial manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com, says: “With the internet and mobile phones playing such an integral part in everyday life, the opportunity for spammers to attack is huge. I’m really surprised just 10 per cent of people use an automatic spam filter. Most email providers offer this for free and when you consider spam emails can contain viruses that will steal your private information; the need for security is paramount.”

The survey also reveals over a quarter (26 per cent) of people think spam is a danger to young people in particular and a further quarter (23 per cent) think their email account provider should do more to warn of the dangers of spam – especially when a fifth (20 per cent) of people that receive spam have no idea how to stop it.

moneysupermarket.com top tips to stay spam free:

1.     Make sure you use any automatic spam filters/pop up blockers that your email provider may supply

2.     Keep spyware and anti-virus software up to date

3.     Do not open emails or attachments from addresses you do not recognise

4.     Be wary of downloading applications from sites such as facebook, they can often be malware

5.     If you receive an email from a prince asking you for money in return for a lot more money it is too good to be true – avoid like the plague

The online poll was carried out by Opinium Research, who interviewed 2,179 British adults between 17^th and 21^st October 2008. Research has been weighted to nationally representative criteria