Microsoft joins anti-spam market

Microsoft joins anti-spam market

Microsoft will be building anti-spam technology into Exchange Server from the middle of next year, demonstrating to the market just how serious the problem is.

Link: Spam takes over inboxes

The server module, called Microsoft Exchange Intelligent Message Filter, is similar to the anti-spam technology already built into Microsoft Outlook 2003 and Hotmail.

It uses a scanner which identifies spam by its content but also by its behavior on the network. The spam filter will be updated monthly from spam lists sent in by Hotmail users.

Microsoft Exchange Intelligent Message Filter is designed to work with other third party anti-spam products and has been backed by security players such as Brightmail.

Ross McWilliam, managing director of reseller Zen Software, said Microsoft’s moves could actually make the market bigger.

‘This can be a positive thing. The fact Microsoft is coming into the market shows how serious the problem is. Companies that have been putting off buying an anti-spam solution will now be pushed to look at the options.’

But Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at antivirus and anti-spam vendor Sophos, questioned whether putting antispam sofware on the server was the right approach: ‘Our resellers tell us large companies don’t want this and it may not work,” he claimed.

‘Exchange doesn’t have the infrastructure to stop spam effectively for them. The job needs to be done closer to the internet access point, before it gets into the organisation. Deciding to update spam definitions on a monthly basis is also too slow for serious antispam filters.’

This is not the first time Microsoft has tried incorporating anti-spam technology. In 1999 it introduced SmartScreen, which checked for spam in users’ Hotmail accounts.

Initially the results were good, but spammers quickly learned how to bypass the controls.

Microsoft is also working on other anti-spam technology, including developing a ‘Trusted Sender’ programme with AOL, Yahoo and Earthlink. It also put in lobbying time and funding to support anti-spam legislation in the US.

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource