iPod takes top spot in Spam Index

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.

After stock shortages of Apple's wildly successful portable mp3 player became public knowledge in December, spammers moved in to take advantage.

iPod-related spam shot to the top spot in December, according to the Spam Index maintained by email security company Clearswift.

Pushing aside usual spam categories, the iPod spam trimmed weight-loss spam to a svelte 3.6 percent of all spam sent in December. Libido enhancement spam was rock solid at 35 percent, while sexual organ enhancement spam limped in at an unimpressive 3.6 percent of all spam sent.

The December Spam Index indicated a trend towards luxury and lifestyle items, according to Clearswift's Asia Pacific managing director Peter Croft.

"With the iMac Mini and iPod Shuffle launching this month, email users should prepare themselves for an onslaught of lifestyle junk mail, spearheaded by an influx of Mac-inspired spam," said Croft.