Spam! spam! spam! spam! . . . if it had not been for Monty Python nobody would ever have thought there was anything funny about it. With almost 50 percent of the world’s email now junk mail, offering everything from unwanted penis extensions to stockmarket tips, spam has become as big a problem as viruses.

Overall spam levels have soared by more than 67 per cent, and image-based spam by more than 500 per cent, since August, according to new figures from security vendor Barracuda Networks.

Spammers are cashing in on trends in the lifestyle market, peddling wares more upmarket than traditional spam products. In particular, the iPod has become a favourite for savvy spammers.

Share price scams fall out of favour with spammers.

Sex-related spam increased 180 percent in February, according to a recent spam index.

Pornographic spam tripled during May from 5.62 to 14.05 percent of all spam, according to an internet security firm.

New technology claims to defeat latest spam techniques.

Two Australian government agencies have joined an international campaign aimed at persuading companies to close open relays and proxies, in a bid to reduce the amount of spam.

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

New bandwidth and storage headaches.

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

Impressive and free antivirus and antispyware package

Sophos security expert points out Bill's folly.

Post-Christmas spam decline fails to appear.