Spammers are shifting their focus to healthcare and finance rather than porn, according to the monthly Spam Index report from Clearswift. 

Healthcare and finance accounted for 80 per cent of all spam filtered by the company in July 2005, compared with 30 per cent in June 2003 when the index began.

Pornography now only accounts for five per cent of junk mail, four times less than reported in the first Spam Index analysis.

While the level of pornographic spam still fluctuates, with peaks in the months leading up to summer, it has dropped significantly over the time period.

Porn blended with healthcare is still on the increase in the form of 'libido-enhancing' pills at 'unbelievable' prices, but the most recent development is emails promoting goods associated with personal or family safety.

"Historically, spammers have generally tried to lure us in under the false pretence that they are trying to help, offering antidepressants, enhancement pills and cheap loans," said Alyn Hockey, director of research at Clearswift.

"This shift towards a calculated attempt to frighten consumers into making purchases is very well timed.

"There is something ironic in spammers offering users security products when unsolicited email is often used in three of the most popular security threats: viruses, phishing scams and spyware."

Software-related spam is also on the rise, at 31 per cent of all product spam, possibly following the news that Microsoft's software packages are amongst the world's most counterfeited products.

"Perhaps it is no surprise that porn spam is on the wane," said Hockey. " Even the most basic filter can pick up sexual images, but it is far easier to disguise spam selling healthcare products as legitimate mail."