Broadband users may give away their email address too easily, leading to problems with the performance of their computer, according to a report by Sky News Online.

Security analyst with McAfee Greg Day explained that too much spam mail can also mean real messages are accidentally deleted in the barrage of junk that affects some broadband users.

He commented: "It's like asking someone in the street for a home address - online if someone asks for an e-mail address we are just willing to hand it over. I am unwilling to hand my address out to anyone apart from someone I want to communicate with."

McAfee carried out an experiment with 50 people from around the world, where internet users were told to register with websites and reply to junk mail in a bid to increase their levels of spam - resulting in 104,000 spam mails.

The UK was shown to be a particular target for Nigerian scammers - which could highlight the need for broadband users to be wary of handing out their personal email address, as well as the need to install anti-virus software.

Last month the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group published a set of guidelines on how internet service providers can work to reduce the levels of spam currently blighting internet users.


Tuesday, 1st July 2008

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