IBM Launches New Spam Filter

IBM's new spam filter works by analyzing the domain of the entity and then checking its legitimacy before letting the e-mail through.

Developed by IBM and dubbed FairUCE (”Fair use of Unsolicited Commercial Email”), the new technology helps filter and block spam by analyzing the domain identity of an email — using built-in identity management capabilities at the network level. FairUCE is able to establish the legitimacy of an e-mail message by linking it back to its origin — thereby establishing a relationship between an e-mail domain, e-mail address and the computer from which is was sent. Since IP addresses are fixed and cannot be changed, FairUCE can identify if the messages are arriving from a zombie computer, bot device or legitimate email server. Unlike spam filters, which identify spam by scanning the content of every email message entering the network, FairUCE blocks and eliminates spam from spammers who assume false identities to hide who they really are.

The new solution effectively minimizes the growing threats of phishing and spoofing – tactics used to trick people into disclosing information that can lead to identity theft. Content filtering also heavily taxes IT systems, siphoning off bandwidth used for business needs. IBM’s new FairUCE spam technology can help customers identify potentially harmful traffic much earlier — before it affects their networks.