MessageLabs is out with a list of the states that receive the most spam ... and the security vendor offers up this cockamamie explanation for why these 10 are most targeted:
"The varying spam levels across states can be attributed to different socioeconomic factors and levels of security awareness in each state," blathers a MessageLabs expert. "The states that are experiencing higher spam levels may not place as high a priority on IT security overall or employees and businesses may be more willing to share their personal contact information in public domains."
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Here are the 10 states in order of ascending spamminess ... and the real reasons they are junk e-mail magnets:
10. Alabama: Just-announced crackdown on diploma mills -- a leading industry, apparently -- should drop the state off this list in no time.
9. Pennsylvania: Lawmakers too busy policing National Football League.
8. Texas: Construction behind schedule on antispam border fence.
7. Indiana: Name a town Santa Claus, expect a lot of mail.
6. North Carolina: Even spammers hate Duke.
5. Wisconsin: Cheese-head hats prove ineffective deterrent.
4. New Hampshire: Ban on spam filters takes "Live Free or Die" thing a bit too far.
3. Oregon: Spam turned back at California line has to go somewhere.
2. South Dakota: Lone e-mail account makes for an inviting target.
1. Illinois: Obviously, Obama's weak on network security.
Any questions?
Welcome regulars and passersby. Here are a few more recent Buzzblog items. And, if you'd like to receive Buzzblog via e-mail newsletter, here's where to sign up.
Doing the Laptop Drive of Shame.
Bank of America to support Firefox, finally.
What does Cisco have against Quebec? (Answer: silly contest rules.)
Attrition.org nails another nitwit ... this time with Monty Python's Holy Grail.
"I have a lost laptop horror story for you."
Kellogg's and LEGO team up to teach kids to choke.
The REAL sticking point between Microsoft and Yahoo!
This Year's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries.
Top 10 Buzzblog posts for '07: Verizon's there, of course, along with Gates, Wikipedia and the guy who lost a girlfriend to Blackberry's blackout.
The Leader in Network Knowledge
Weak?
What do you mean weak on network security. Obama IS most of my spam these days.