Spam Index -- Clearswift has analyzed thousands of unsolicited e-mails on a weekly basis to compile its third Spam Index. It found that spam from healthcare, gambling, scams, and porn sources are on the decline, but spam for direct products-- most specifically Arnold Schwarzenegger T-shirts, J-Lo engagement rings, and life-size dolls- are on the rise. The Spam Index for August is as follows: In August, the results of the Spam Index were as follows: direct products 30.8%; finance 17.2%; gambling 6.2%; healthcare 21.2%; porn/profanity 13.6%; scams 2%; spam related 3.6% and other 5.4%.
E-Commerce -- Newmediazero.com reports that over 8,000 European retailers have signed up to Visa's global Verified by Visa service, which claims to protect against e-commerce fraud cases.
E-mail Lists -- Newmediazero.com also reports that StoneShot, an e-mail marketing agency in the UK, has compiled a survey that says that 63 percent of IT companies use e-mailing lists that will become illegal on October 31 when a directive on privacy and electronic communications becomes law. The survey also shows that 70 percent of marketing managers in the technology industry are not fully aware of the new law and only 37 percent of them use opt-in mailing lists that will still be legal after the law is enacted.