Let's face it, junk e-mails are extremely annoying. Promising us everything from medication for larger body parts to free software, these irritating little messages are usually just deleted and cast back into cyberspace.

However, some spam messages contain malicious software or viruses, which pose a great threat to any data you might have.

Broadband providers are now coming under increasing pressure to take action and do more to stop these spam messages getting through in the first place.

Anti-spam groups are calling for tougher regulations on providers in order to prevent malicious messages getting through. One suggestion is to close the port through which spam has to travel in order to have an effect.

Some companies utilise this method already, but there are many who argue that more should be done. There are many who will also argue that the spam will just adapt to get through the new methods employed by anti-spam software or techniques.

With more of us now owning a broadband line and relying on the Internet to conduct our business and personal lives, spam is still viewed by many as a major threat to the safety of our computers.

One of the most malicious aspects of spamming is the use of 'botnets' - networks of machines that have been accessed from outside by hackers, which are then used to send junk e-mails containing malicious software that can take a computer down in seconds.

If you've an inkling that your computer is affected by some aspect that is causing it to run slowly, run a broadband speed test to check if there is a problem with your phone line.

Be sure to seek help from a computer specialist if you suspect there might be malicious material on your machine - but the main piece of advice for avoiding such situations is to not open any suspicious e-mails and the attachments that come with them.