U.K.-based E-mail security firm BlackSpider Technologies conducted the survey at Infosec 2004, a London trade show that ran April 27 to 29; in all, 83% of the 200 security pros interviewed said that Microsoft's initiative to end spam as we know it won't do the job in just two years.
"The results reflect that the industry doesn't perceive Microsoft to be a significant security authority," BlackSpider CEO John Cheney said in a statement.
In an E-mailed missive in June 2003, Gates called on government and the IT industry to cooperate in bringing spam to its knees.
The survey also found that 54% of respondents view spam as a major threat to their business, and 68% felt that E-mailed viruses remain a significant problem for business networks.