Webroot Software in a new research has found out that after a decrease in 2005, spyware infection rates have risen again to their highest level since 2004 and this is happening despite more users installing anti-spyware measures.

Their report has stated that social networking sites such as MySpace, is a active breeding ground for this spyware growth while new online channels, more sophisticated spyware technology and consumer reliance on too many free anti-spyware applications that could act as trojans have all pushed the growth up.

"Less than a year ago, many so-called internet security experts began claiming that spyware was on the decline and that infection rates would soon drop to the point of extinction," said C David Moll, chief executive at Webroot.

During the second quarter of 2006, Webroot researchers found that 89 per cent of consumer PCs were infected with an average of 30 pieces of spyware, a slight increase from the first quarter of 2006.

Meanwhile spammers recognise the extra profitability of adding spyware to their email scams, and criminals are flooding the internet with an increased number of spyware websites to ensnare new victims. 

WebRoot reports 9 in 10 PCs have spyware