The Register reports that a recent survey by Forrester Research indicated that 22 percent of British Internet users reported that they have bought software that was advertised in spam that they received. The survey was sponsored by the Business Software Alliance which probably would have been happy that so many Britons said they bought software for their home computers, except that probably none of the spammers are members of the BSA.
The Register expressed doubt that the methodology used produced realistic results:
The BSA said its survey looks at a different metric of how many people ever bought through spam compared to the percentage of spam messages that result in a purchase. A reasonable response – but we remain sceptical about this survey. Some people do respond to spam – otherwise it wouldn’t exist. But the idea that Briton {sic} harbours five million-plus people who bought software by junk email strains belief.
Nine in ten of those polled in the UK by Forrester received spam. Apparently, 23 per cent of spam gets read, according to the study. Again this figure raises eyebrows.