http://www.trimmail.com/news/ Spam, Security, Privacy, Spyware, Phishers, and Viruses From The Front Line. en-US Copyright 2005, 2A Data 60 http://www.trimmail.com/logo_trimmail http://www.trimmail.com/news/ Security http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebijhbbb_eb/ Millions of vets' necks were laid on the chopping block on the third of May, when a hard disk containing their Social Security numbers was stolen from a VA employee's home. Over the next two weeks, a dozen officials of Veterans Affairs found out, yet nobody got around to telling the vets so they could start protecting their bank accounts and credit records. The reasons why are revealing. Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:43:50 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebijhbbb_eb/ Group http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/group_aaebhadfhf_ia/ The ink hadn't yet dried on IBM's announcement of Lotus Notes on Linux, before anti-Lotus partisans unleashed their venom. Few gave weight to the thought that desktop Linux has suddenly gained collaboration abilities acceptable to enterprise-level buyers. But like it or not, Lotus Notes just raised Linux to a breathtaking, Microsoft-defying, new level. Question is, how long will it take Redmond to do what needs to be done? Thu, 13 Jul 2006 13:32:24 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/group_aaebhadfhf_ia/ Virus http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/virus_aaebgbjajc_je/ Self-installing programs can be nice, when you invoke them by choice. But researchers have found thousands of viruses that execute after you innocently click a promising search link. Outraged users are demanding that Google, MSN and Yahoo do something about it. Luckily, Microsoft already has. Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:33:42 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/virus_aaebgbjajc_je/ Spam http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/spam_aaebfdaich_if/ Most folks don't know that the zombie capital of the world isn't China or the USA. It's the European Union, by a long shot. The secret has been kept by well-meaning reporters who are living in the past, preserving each European state as an individual unit, as opposed to the EU as a full-fledged competitor on par with China and the US. Sometimes, it seems, the EU is treated like Rodney Dangerfield. It can't get any respect... even from its very best friends. Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:41:16 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/spam_aaebfdaich_if/ Spam http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/spam_aaebefcfac_cf/ The admins at Microsoft IT make their anti-spam strategy brutally clear: They depend, first and foremost, on the anti-spam technique most riddled with inaccuracies, failures and outright corruption: blocklisting. Email Battles compares Microsoft's first-contact blocklisting technique with first-contact deferral. While both methods get you to the same net delivery rate, one is far more likely to deliver the mail you want. Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:27:26 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/spam_aaebefcfac_cf/ Security http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebcjbjaj_bf/ A security hacker is unleashing an exploit every day this month. HD Moore claims he's doing it to highlight the fecklessness of browser security, but admits that he also wants to draw attention to his new blog. While both might be noble goals, IT managers scrambling to protect end-points left vulnerable by Moore's publicity initiative may be forgiven if they aren't impressed. Fri, 07 Jul 2006 15:04:41 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebcjbjaj_bf/ Security http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebbjbafc_aa/ Since a contractor used an FBI agent's password and ancient off-the-web utilities to repeatedly crack the Bureau's network, people are starting to ask questions. Problem is, they're the wrong questions. After blowing $581 million on its failed Trilogy IT boondoggle, the FBI re-badged it, then re-sold it to Congress for another $500 million. Unfortunately, the Inspector General's report shows that the "lack of people who know what they're doing" persists. Does J. Edgar Hoover's old team have the minimal competence required to protect itself in the Internet age? Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:02:54 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaebbjbafc_aa/ IDTheft http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/idtheft_aaebaahdig_de/ It's back in custody. The stolen laptop containing the names and Social Security numbers of 26.5 million veterans and active duty personnel has been turned over to the FBI. Conflicting news reports claim a guy (or a gal) brokered the deal through the Parks Service (as in "parks and recreation") with a private dick as intermediary... or not. In any event, the FBI and lawmakers promptly declared the data hadn't been copied, so all's well that ends well. What? Wed, 05 Jul 2006 12:04:42 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/idtheft_aaebaahdig_de/ IP http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/ip_aaeagjjiai_dd/ Too often, excellent communicators publish newsfeeds so dumb that they drive readers away. If RSS or Atom feeds are part of your mix, you may want to see how many barriers you've inadvertently built to block loyal subscribers. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:20:13 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/ip_aaeagjjiai_dd/ Security http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaeafjefih_cb/ Microsoft's new push into anti-virus, anti-spyware and security looks great on paper. But many are wondering how it will play out in the trenches. After auditing anti-virus offerings in one Midwestern metro area, Email Battles found that Symantec dominates display space in big box retailers across the board. Nevertheless, there is plenty of space available for the new software line, although somebody won't like it. Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:43:33 CST http://www.emailbattles.com/archive/battles/security_aaeafjefih_cb/