A new study claims that Illinois receives more spam traffic than any other state in the union. But a close look at the data shows that the other 49 aren't doing all that well either (with one interesting exception.)The MessageLabs spam study showed that in June 92.1 percent of Illinois e-mail traffic was spam; average for the nation was 86 percent spam; least spammed state was Montana, which still received spam at a higher than 75 percent rate.

In other words, we're all in a state of high-spam, and it's getting worse.

A chart and map showing the spam rate by state is here.

Where does your state rank? And does the spam rate at your business match the MessageLabs figures?

According to a MessageLabs statement, The states that are experiencing higher spam levels may not place as high a priority on IT security overall or employees and businesses may be more willing to share their personal contact information in public domains."

That strikes me as a pretty large leap, particularly the suggestion that high spam-traffic states place a lower priority on overall IT security, but I don't have a better explanation. Any ideas?

The interesting exception? Wyoming.

A glance at the state spam-rank chart shows percentages and standings for 49 states and NO DATA for Wyoming. No explanation either. Maybe, though, the state's vice presidential favorite son's fondness for keeping secrets extends to the state's computers, computer users and spam rates as well.