Stopping Zombies Before They Attack
""Zombies" are amongst us - so say Microsoft as it launches its Dont Get Tricked on Halloween campaign. "Like medical researchers studying a strain of a contagious virus", Microsoft Internet Safety Enforcement investigators carefully experimented this summer with a tiny piece of malicious code used by computer criminals to hijack personal computers. The investigators began by placing a single copy of the code onto a healthy computer and then connected the computer to the Internet. Almost immediately, the researchers noticed the first rumblings of life. The infected computer sent an alert with its Internet location and hijack status to a distant server. Then, connection requests from hundreds of IP addresses poured into the machine, commanding the infected computer to distribute millions of illegal spam e-mails." Source: irishdev.com
Hotmail, MSN Outage Hits Apple, Broadband Users
"A problem with Microsoft's Hotmail Latest News about Hotmail and MSN e-mail service prevented users from multiple providers from sending messages to the Microsoft e-mail services this week. Users of the Mail application in Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Latest News about Apple OS X Latest News about OS X operating system on Monday started reporting that e-mail messages that they were sending to Hotmail and MSN weren't being delivered. The problem didn't occur if a copy of the message was sent to the user's own account. Changing the priority setting from 'normal' to either high or low also provided a workaround, users reported. Microsoft Latest News about Microsoft was made aware of the issues with the Apple users on Monday. The company acknowledged the problem and said it has been working on a solution. As of Wednesday afternoon, though, there was still no fix and Microsoft couldn't provide any background information on what was causing the problems." Source: macnewsworld.com
Nortel adds Websense cell-phone filter
"Nortel has teamed with a San Diego security developer on a filtering solution for text-capable cell phones. The filter produced by Websense is aimed at curbing the growing annoyances of spam and spyware designed to infiltrate increasingly sophisticated handsets. An added feature of the filtering system allows parents to block adult material from being downloaded on their children's cells. "The task of protecting mobile subscribers and their devices from unwanted content has become a significant concern for wireless carriers and subscribers around the globe as new voice, video and data services are increasingly accessed on the go," said Nortel Vice President Deborah Bourland." Source: upi.com
SurfControl Web Filter 5.0 Achieves Check Point OPSEC Certification
"SurfControl (London: SRF), a world leader in enterprise threat protection, today announced SurfControl Web Filter 5.0 has achieved OPSEC(TM) (Open Platform for Security) certification from Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP - News). OPSEC certification is widely recognized confirmation that SurfControl Web Filter 5.0 for Check Point FireWall-1® has passed a rigorous course of tests to assure that it seamlessly integrates with Check Point's market-leading Internet security solutions. The combined solutions shield enterprises from the complete spectrum of Internet threats including spyware, Trojans, viruses, phishing attacks and other inappropriate downloads. SurfControl Web Filter for Check Point FireWall-1 increases an enterprise's overall security posture and extends the value of the existing firewall infrastructure by providing a better understanding of the activities of trusted insiders accessing the Web. SurfControl Web Filter and its companion Internet Threat Database, featuring more than 12 million URLs in 47 categories and 70 languages, make it easy for enterprises to develop and enforce Internet acceptable use policies which can be easily tailored to meet the needs of their organization. SurfControl Report Central helps IT and business decision makers quickly analyze, evaluate and respond to the changing Internet threat environment." Source: SurfControl plc via yahoo.com
E-Mail Headers: Where the Action Is
"As e-mail marketers, we spend a majority of our time creating e-mail bodies. However, the most important part of a message may be something outside the creative process: the e-mail header, those generally hidden lines of code at the top of each message. Now that the e-mail industry is using authentication, reputation, and accreditation, the e-mail header plays a critical role in an ISP's decision to block or deliver a message. Most of us, though, let our IT departments or e-mail service providers (ESPs) worry about the header. With our basic walkthrough, you can interpret what the header tells you about message delivery. We'll also provide a couple reasons fiddling with some list software settings can actually hurt deliverability." Source: clickz.com
SpamButcher Launches SpamFreeze – A Free Anti-Spam Service for Bloggers and Webmasters
"SpamFreeze is a free service provided by SpamButcher for webmasters, Bloggers and anyone else who needs to publish their email address online without fear of being spammed. SpamFreeze can be accessed via http://www.spambutcher.com/spamfreeze/ Getting setup with SpamFreeze is a one-step process that takes under 10 seconds to complete. Increasingly, spammers obtain email addresses by using "spiders"- computer programs that crawl the web extracting information from websites. As a result, publishing your email address online is a sure way to end up getting spammed. SpamFreeze makes your email address invisible to spiders, helping to minimize how much spam you receive." Source: emediawire.com
Q3 e-mail delivery rates improved, Lyris says
"The average gross e-mail delivery rates for permission-based messages fell to 87% in the third quarter, down from 90% in the second quarter, for the top Internet service providers and e-mail service providers, according to Lyris Technologies Inc. In-box deliverability rates also fell incrementally to 86%, due in large part to an increase in the amount of blocked and undelivered e-mail among European providers. In contrast, U.S. providers showed improvement in the delivery of opt-in e-mail in the third quarter, raising the average rate 4 percentage points to 89%, Lyris said. In addition, despite an increase in false positive spam filtering for two U.S. domains Hotmail and Gmail overall rates of false positive spam filtering continued to drop from the second quarter's 1.4% average to 1.2% in the third quarter." Source: internetretailer.com
F-SECURE: Antivirus and intrusion prevention product turnover +44% Q3 2005
"F-Secure’s antivirus and intrusion prevention revenues increased by 44% to 15.2m euro. Fastest growth was witnessed by sales aimed at service providers and by consumer business operations. The company’s net profit rose to three million euro, which was 19% of the revenue. The company has implemented its strategy towards a philosophy of service-centric data security by launching its Security as a Service solutions to small businesses and corporate segments. In the consumer sector, the company has offered Security as a Service already for years in cooperation with service providers. The F-Secure Service Platform™ products take into consideration the differing business models and needs of service providers. Five different platforms exist for large companies, small companies, consumers, gateway usage and mobile phones. Partners include companies in the system management and outsourced services areas, Internet Service Providers as well as other types of service provider." Source: kauppalehti.fi
WatchGuard Introduces New Security Services Solidifying Its Leadership in Unified Threat Management
"New software enables centralized management of appliances and security services that defend against spyware, spam, viruses and other intrusions. spamBlocker is based on innovative technology thatanalyzes Internet message patterns, not the message data, resulting inreal-time spam detection in a fraction of a second before spam evenenters the network. This is done in partnership with Commtouch(Nasdaq:CTCH), which developed Recurrent Pattern Detection(TM) (RPD)technology predicated on the fact that the fundamental characteristicof spam is mass distribution. Rather than evaluating message content,the RPD technology analyzes large volumes of Internet traffic inreal-time to identify outbreaks as soon as they emerge. The RPDapproach results in the best service in the industry at distinguishinglegitimate communication from new spam outbreaks, blocking more than97% of unwanted emails, with very low false positives. Since manyphishing attacks, online scams, viruses and spyware are initiatedthrough spam, the spamBlocker solution is the first line of defenseagainst those threats. With processing done off the appliance, thereis minimal impact on network performance. WatchGuard's Firebox X Coreand Peak are the only UTM appliances to offer this real-time anti-spamprevention." Source: finanzen.net
Mirapoint Named a Service Provider Weekly Top 50 Vendor
"Mirapoint is the only vendor in the industry with proven email server and email security appliances that offer carrier class "five-nines" reliability and the industry's lowest total cost ownership. Mirapoint's Message Server is the industry's only dedicated appliance that integrates email routing, storage, access and management with comprehensive, multi-layered email security to block hackers, spam, and virus threats. With consistent spam and virus catch-rates upwards of 98 percent, Mirapoint's RazorGate email security appliances provide multi-layered protection at the network edge to block hackers, spam, and virus threats, as well as provide advanced management of message traffic through connection management, policy enforcement tools, content filters and detailed reporting. Together the Mirapoint Message Server and RazorGate deliver a secure messaging infrastructure to service providers and enterprises worldwide." Source: mirapoint via businesswire.com
Executive Guide to Email Security (whitepaper)
"As spam volume grows and email born viruses and worms become more threatening, the demand for comprehensive solutions has generated an unprecedented number of vendors entering the anti-spam market. With literally scores of vendors to choose from it is important to categorize providers by the type of approach they take to stopping spam and virus threats. There are two major categories of providers that follow conventional email security models. One category uses desktop anti-spam software while the other relies on server/gateway appliances or software." Source: whitepaper.informationweek.com
G-Lock SpamCombat 2.60 Download
"G-Lock SpamCombat is email filtering software that lets you eliminate all unwanted messages at the server level without receiving them with your email client. G-Lock SpamCombat benefits: - Catches and deletes spam BEFORE it reaches your inbox. - Self learns based on your spam and good email and adapts to new types of spam. - Detects spam with great precision and accuracy. - Stops viruses and malicious code. - Safe email preview - no pictures are downloaded, no hidden scripts or codes are executed. - Cuts down unproductive email traffic and saves bandwidth. - Filters email from multiple email accounts. - Can work in a fully automatic mode. - Provides an easy way of recovering deleted emails. - Has a very customizable user interface. - Provides comprehensive statistics graphs. - Helps save your money and valuable time." Source: techspot.com
IMF Tune Opens Exchange Integration to any Anti-Spam Filter
"WinDeveloper Software – IMF Tune, in its latest release, opens Exchange integration to all anti-spam solutions. Filters running on any platform, on firewall appliances, and even at external service providers, suddenly become an integral part of Exchange. Exchange is commonly considered exclusive ground for applications providing the necessary integration. This is no longer the case, as Alexander Zammit the IMF Tune Technical Lead explains, "IMF Tune provides the missing link between anti-spam filters and Exchange. The same level of integration offered by native Exchange filters, such as the Intelligent Message Filter, is now available to all applications." IMF Tune ensures spam routing to the Junk Email folder. Outlook Safe Senders, Safe Recipients and Blocked Senders are also applied. All the client-side functionality is accessible through the standard Outlook and Outlook Web Access interfaces. No client-side extensions or custom rules are involved. Thus deployment is centralized and incurs minimal disruptions." Source: emediawire.com
Sender ID Support in Exchange 2003 service pack
"A significant new feature included in the update is support for Sender ID, an e-mail authentication protocol which Microsoft is backing as a solution to spam against rivals like DomainKeys, which is being pushed by companies like Yahoo and Cisco. Sender ID verifies the Internet address of the server which sent an e-mail against the known IP address of the domain which it claimed to come from. This helps to evade a technique known as 'spoofing' in which spammers send e-mail from fake address to avoid being caught." Source: zdnet.com.au
Various Ways to Stop Spam Deluge Dead
"We can solve the problem of spam emails mainly by being more cautious handling emails from strangers, reporting to the Federal Trade Commission, and, most importantly, creating a spam filter. First, we can solve the problem of spam emails mainly by being more cautious handling emails from strangers. Although it may be tough to follow, not opening spam emails is a good advice to listen. Upon opening a spam email, the spammers identify the address as active, and the misery starts — the spammers spam again and again." Source: seoultimes.com
New Regex Engines That Scale UTM Appliances From 10 Meg to 10 Gig Now Offer Industry-Leading Spam Protection
"Mail-Filters.com, Inc., the global leader in OEM anti-spam solutions that provides technology for its OEM partners by filtering billions of messages a day in more than 100 countries and 30 languages announces a partnership with Tarari to deliver a new collaborative anti-spam technology solution utilizing Tarari's fourth generation RegEx Content Processors and Mail-Filters Bullet Signatures and StarEngine technologies. Mail-Filters' anti-spam technology is already recognized in the industry for providing best-of-breed spam filtering that consistently blocks more spam with fewer false positives than the competition. In addition, Mail-Filters technology is capable of filtering thousands of messages per second; well beyond the capability of competitive solutions." Source: prnewswire.com
Anti-Spam Solution for Active Mail Users
"LuxContinent LLC announces the release of Spam Reader 2.0, an anti-spam plug-in that easily integrates with Microsoft Outlook and can work with Exchange, POP3, IMAP and HTTP accounts. Spam Reader is capable of catching up to 98% of incoming spam messages while important e-mail safely passes to your inbox. If you are an active mail user, you are subscribed to various mailing lists, your mailbox receives messages from different mail accounts, then Spam Reader 2.0 is a right anti-spam solution for you. The program contains a set of features that can be useful especially for this type of users. " Source: clickpress.com
Looking beyond simple spam filtering
"Messaging security vendors face a dilemma; they must stay focused on blocking spam, viruses and other nasty code flooding corporate e-mail streams. But as spam and virus blocking become check-list items instead of purchase drivers, vendors looking to stand out are adding new features ranging from encryption and policy enforcement for outbound messages to new product lines that protect communications other than e-mail, such as instant messaging or Web interactions. "The days of [vendors that] do strictly content filtering are numbered," says Charles Gautreaux, network administrator with Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, a PVC and cast-iron pipe manufacturer in Charlotte, N.C. "All the other features beyond anti-spam and anti-virus are starting to show their value."" Source: networkworld.com
GMail’s Spam Filter On Vacation?
"I've had to start writing my own Gmail SPAM filters today. I've received hundreds of SPAM with the phrase *MXON* in it. They are almost identical, except for the number of *'s. This seems to escape Gmail's SPAM filter and I've setup a rule to forward anything with that string to the Trash (you can't send it to the SPAM bin with a rule)." Source: webpronews.com
Anti-Spyware Hones Searches
"In the long run, at least, eWEEK Labs believes that anti-spyware defenses are an appropriate and logical component of anti-virus security suites. Integrating spyware and adware defenses into the anti-virus platform can provide a single point of management; ease research, testing and deployment; and, ideally, scan, clean and block threats efficiently and effectively." Source: eweek.com
Websense Leads in Web Filtering Software: IDC
"Employee internet management solutions provider Websense announced that IDC, the leading provider of technology analysis, recently named Websense the market share leader in the web filtering software segment of the secure content management (SCM) market for the third consecutive year. According to the IDC study, Worldwide Secure Content Management 2005-2009 Forecast Update and 2004 Vendor Shares: Spyware, Spam and Malicious Code Continue to Wreak Havoc, Websense increased its market share from 24.2 percent to 28.4 percent overall - more than 10 percent than its closest competitor." Source: channeltimes.com
Antispam vendors spread their wings
"During the past few years, enterprise e-mail security needs have expanded beyond simply fighting spam. As a result, vendors in this space are left having to continuously enhance their products with related features in order to keep up. These companies, including CipherTrust, Tumbleweed, MessageLabs, Espion, Symantec and many others, continue a steady march beyond what two years ago was the defining task in this market -- blocking spam. Today, enterprises need to protect themselves from more than just unwanted e-mail, and are looking to their messaging security providers for myriad functions including instant messaging and Web security, outbound e-mail encryption and policy enforcement, and extra measures to fight viruses." Source: computerworld.com.au
Users want ISPs to filter spyware
"A majority of net users want their ISPs so block spyware traffic. Half (51 per cent) of 1,000 consumers quizzed by NOP said their service providers should block spyware apps - invasive programs that covertly snoop on user's online activities - while only one in 10 of those quizzed reckon employers should take responsibility for addressing the problem. End user attitudes to seldom offered spyware screening services from ISPs mirror attitudes to spam filtering when such services were in their infancy four or five years ago." Source: theregister.co.uk
E-Mail Reputations
""Unsophisticated e-mailers tend to focus their efforts on evading spam filters, but savvy e-marketers know that e-mail authentication and certification are the most important elements for the successful delivery of an e-mail," said Des Cahill, CEO of Habeas. Habeas RepCheck enables volume senders to conduct a diagnostic examination of their e-mail reputation scores so they can better understand how ISPs and other e-mail receivers will handle their e-mail. Unlike services provided by spam-filtering companies, which often are focused more on determining whether an inbound e-mail originated from a known spammer, the Habeas tool aims to assist companies as they establish their reputations as legitimate e-mail senders." Source: toptechnews.com
How to Avoid Scammers, Spammer and the Rest of the Bad E-guys
"As you may have noticed, though, spam, viruses, and the rest haven't gone away. You still have to protect yourself. Which defense is best for you is a function of how big your business is and how much control you want over your security. Many fixes can help not only with keeping your system safe but also with archiving messages and making sure your system complies with your policies and the law. One solution may not be enough. "You cannot expect to buy a single layer of security protection and sleep at night," says Sara Radicati, of the Radicati Group. Your choices fall into three main categories." Source: inc.com
IMF Tune Opens Exchange Integration to any Anti-Spam Filter
"WinDeveloper Software – IMF Tune, in its latest release, opens Exchange integration to all anti-spam solutions. Filters running on any platform, on firewall appliances, and even at external service providers, suddenly become an integral part of Exchange. Exchange is commonly considered exclusive ground for applications providing the necessary integration. This is no longer the case, as Alexander Zammit the IMF Tune Technical Lead explains, "IMF Tune provides the missing link between anti-spam filters and Exchange. The same level of integration offered by native Exchange filters, such as the Intelligent Message Filter, is now available to all applications." IMF Tune ensures spam routing to the Junk Email folder. Outlook Safe Senders, Safe Recipients and Blocked Senders are also applied. All the client-side functionality is accessible through the standard Outlook and Outlook Web Access interfaces. No client-side extensions or custom rules are involved. Thus deployment is centralized and incurs minimal disruptions." Source: emediawire.com