Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
McAfee.com, a provider of managed Web security services launched McAfee.com SpamKiller, a managed service that helps PC users block unsolicited messages (“spam”) from entering their email inboxes.
According to the company, SpamKiller helps stop spam email, tracks the mail back to the source ISP and sends complaints to the spammer’s service provider, while returning a false “bounced” email message to the spammer. This new service may give consumers and small/medium businesses (SMBs) a powerful and cost-effective solution that solves an Internet nuisance.
McAfee.com SpamKiller connects directly to a user’s POP3 or MAPI-compatible email account and scans all incoming messages for addresses of known spammers. SpamKiller then employs filtering protocols that examine the subject line, body of text, message header and country code for trigger words or phrases commonly found in spam. Once detected, the spam is automatically barred from the user’s inbox.
In addition to the deletion of the mail, SpamKiller automatically returns a false “bounced” email message to the spam generator, signaling that the address is inactive. Spammers will often respond by “scrubbing” their lists of such addresses, helping to spare users from future mailings and saving them from the hassle of having to unsubscribe from multiple email lists.
SpamKiller also retraces the route of the spam message back to the mail server and can be configured to automatically send a complaint on the recipient’s behalf to the spammer’s service provider, system administrators, or any other address the user chooses.
As a safeguard against the deletion of legitimate email, users may create a “Friends” list that specifies addresses from which email should never be blocked. Furthermore, email that is blocked is archived for 30 days so that it may be referred to if necessary. SpamKiller’s multiple methods of detecting spam combined with these built-in safeguards to prevent the deletion of legitimate email make it a highly accurate and effective tool to protect users’ email boxes from spam pollution.
Pricing
McAfee.com SpamKiller is currently available for a special introductory price of $29.95 (USD). For more information on SpamKiller and to purchase, visit: www.mcafee.com.
