As spam becomes the number one issue concerning Internet users, Internet service providers are beginning to cash in on the trend, offering spam and virus filtering services for a fee.

The latest ISP to offer such services is iPrimus, which today announced it would offer Brightmail's iProtect system, designed to combine spam and virus filtering. The service will be available at a cost of AU$3 per month for the spam or virus filtering individually, or AU$5 per month combined. Telstra offers a similar service for a similar price. Some ISPs, such as Pacific Internet, provide spam and virus filtering services for free.

A recent survey of small businesses found that spam was a high concern amongst small business owners. The issue is beginning to move from an annoyance to something people are willing to pay money to protect themselves from.

Spam is also becoming a serious issue for ISPs, several of which experienced problems with their e-mail network in October and November. The issues were blamed on a spike in spam and virus messages. Rebates were offered to customers, but some ISPs were facing more severe action from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

"New and more malicious viruses threaten the security of individuals and organisations, while spam has become a serious threat to email networks and is a major cause of lost productivity and frustration," said Primus Telecom general manager, product development, product management and strategy, Campbell Sallabank. He said major ISPs had a responsibility to protect customers from spam and viruses.

"The new filters will save customers time and money and will provide peace of mind by protecting them from unsolicited junk mail and e-mail-generated viruses," said Sallabank.

The Australian Senate recently passed legislation outlawing spam, a move which is being echoed in the United States and the United Kingdom.

• iPrimus has also launched a "high-speed dial-up" service, which uses "special caching, compression and persistent connection techniques" to provide speeds two or three times faster than regular dial-up. The service, dubbed iSpeed, will be available for an additional AU$8.95 on top of the standard monthly fee, or combined with both the anti-spam and anti-virus service for an additional AU$10.95.