Data Points: Profiting From Spam E-Mail

Computer scientists infiltrated a spam network to conduct spam campaigns and study how spammers make money

By U.S. News Staff

November 13, 2008 RSS Feed Print
  • 350 million: Number of spam E-mails sent using the Storm spam network advertising a fake online pharmacy site
  • 28: Number of sales that would have resulted from the 350 million E-mails, all but one for male enhancement products*
  • Less than 0.00001%: Response rate of the E-mail campaign
  • $2,731.88: Revenue that would have resulted from the 28 sales
  • $7,000 per day or $3.5 million per year: Revenue the researchers estimate the Storm spam network takes in

*The site returned an error message when visitors clicked a button to submit credit card details and make a purchase

Sources: University of California, Berkeley and UC, San Diego; BBC

Tags:
advertising,
internet

Reader Comments

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Cartoons

advertisement

Debate Club

Was 2011 One of the Worst Years for the U.S. Government in American History?

Experts debate where 2011 ranks among Washington's worst years.

Latest Video

Thomas Jefferson Street Blog

What John Edwards Tells Us About the Legal Profession

The legal profession is experiencing a very serious breakdown of ethics.

What the GOP Should Do if Obamacare Falls

If Obamacare is struck down by the Supreme Court, the Democrats are responsible for proposing another plan.

Barack Obama and George Bush Show Congress How to Act Like Adults

Obama and Bush are capable of acting like adults. Why isn't Congress?

Mitt Romney Should Put Up or Shut Up on Syria

The Republican candidate has proven he doesn't have the foreign policy credentials necessary to be president.

Mitt Romney's Colorado Disconnect

The presumptive GOP nominee seems unwilling or unable to talk about local issues in a swing state he desperately needs to win.

Donald Trump Makes Kim Kardashian Look Good

At least Kim Kardashian doesn't take herself seriously.

The Vietnam War Still Haunts Us

History rhymes once again, thanks so much.

'Transcripters' Make Birthers Look Smart

Now the fringe right wants the president's university grades to prove he wasn't a good student.

advertisement

  1. Miami's 'Naked Zombie' Proves Need to Ban Bath Salts, Experts Say
  2. Maryland Man Arrested After Admitting to Killing, Eating Roommate
  3. The Best Jobs of 2012
  4. VIDEO: Miami 'Naked Zombie' Was Likely High on Bath Salts
  5. Saudi Satire Ignites YouTube's Massive Growth in Middle East