| ASK THE EXPERT: Spam is a formidable enemy
QUESTION: What can be done to stop (unsolicited e-mails about) stock tips and discount drugs .... that have no remove instructions. Or those that, when I reply to them, I find that their e-mail address is not recognized? -- David Griffith ANSWER: My answer isn't going to cheer you up. Spammers are getting more skillful. Even my commercial anti-spam software is doing a poor job stopping some of these e-mails, especially the stock tips you mention. Most spam-blocking programs either use the Internet address of the mailer or a set of rules that help the program identify spam. The stock tip e-mails change addresses for almost every mailing. So you may get one from john@thisaddress.com and the next will come from jake@thataddress.com. Many of them use an electronic image of text -- basically a photograph of the text message -- rather than text itself.
BT tackles spam
BT is doing its bit to tackle the growing problem of spam by launching an automated system that aims to combat professional spammers and alert infected users. The telco's spam busting system is based on Content Forensics technology from StreamShield Networks and, by scanning millions of emails daily, it can provide detailed broadband network reports which BT can then act on. Around 6.5 billion emails sent each day are considered spam and their transit takes up valuable bandwidth that could be used by businesses and consumers for other purposes. With the new system, BT hopes to tackle this problem and redress the balance by catching those who choose to spam professionally as well as botnet infected consumers who are unaware that their PCs are generating junk emails.
A Managed Security Solution for the SMB Set
For years, Cottle worked as an engineer for McAfee before starting his own venture, Secure Resolutions, based in Mesa, Ariz. The idea was to create a small company that would provide anti-malware, anti-spam, anti-virus, patching and other security solutions. Cottle started the company in 2000 and currently employees 25 people. (He declined to discuss his company's specific financial information.) Being a small company, Cottle had an idea of how to make his solutions appealing to other SMBs (small and midsize businesses). Cottle decided to offer his solution through channel partners and Secure Resolution developed its own managed security program for these VARs. "When we first started selling our line we went to direct companies so that we could get some name recognition, but the real marketplace for managed services is in the channel where the VARs are the trusted advisor and can manage the systems of the individual customers," Cottle said to Channel Insider.
Estonia: More information on Eurolaul
More news on the Estonian selection for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, Eurolaul, have been published through Estonian website escestonia.com. Now it seems clear that bouth Soul Militia (formerly known as 2XL) and Vanilla Ninja will take part in the competition. Both have been among the teams that were asked to submit an entry. .
Virus protection: You get what you pay for
FORT MYERS: These days, your personal computer is a treasure trove of information containing things like your e-mails, photos, and even financial information. It is all the more reason that people should protect their computers against viruses. But as NBC2 Consumer Investigator Paul LaGrone explains, the free anti-virus programs offered on the internet may leave you with a false sense of security. The free virus protection software programs offered on the internet can leave gaping holes in your computer's security system - putting everything you hold dear at risk. But there is a better way to protect your computer. There are dozens of free downloads to choose from on the internet that claim to keep viruses away from your computer. While these free programs are better than nothing, computer experts say it's by no means a cure-all.
Hats-off to Microsoft for finally freeing Sender ID! Spammers ...
Although it didn't open source the technology and there's no word on whether the open community will embrace it (after originally turning tail and running from it years ago), Microsoft has taken a bold and welcome step by changing the terms of availability for its Sender ID anti-spam technology to something that's less encumbered than the prior terms and that's more developer-friendly. According to IDG News Service's Elizabeth Montalbano: Sender ID, an e-mail specification for detecting when an e-mail address is being spoofed to send spam, can now be used as a basis for new technology by anyone under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise (OSP), said Jason Matusow, senior director of interoperability for Microsoft Through the OSP, published in September, Microsoft promised it would not take any patent-enforcement action against people that want to use specifications on a list of Web services technologies for which it has patents.
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