Only one in every 28 managed emails is legitimate correspondence, with the remainder being spam, new research has found.
Sophos, an IT security firm, has found 96.5 per cent of all business
managed email is spam, with the figures having risen dramatically between April and June this year.
Those working in the SU, Russia and Turkey are most likely to be relayers of spam, according to the research, with the UK coming equal ninth in the list of offending areas.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, said: "The amount of junk mail will be swamping legitimate correspondence from your customers and suppliers."
"It should be remembered also that some spam is not just a nuisance, but malicious in its intent."
Mr Cluley added businesses need effective
anti-spam devices in place if they are on the internet and that more needs to be done to raise awareness of IT security.