finding email server information

Something Phishy About Your Company's Email Server

The problem of leaky email server company around from the last decade. Considered length of time that has been around at the ton of information available on how to fix this problem, it boggles the mind that this very problem still exists today.

Just exactly what it is "dripping problem" in the email server? The common term for this problem is "open relay".

Back in the day when a monstrosity known today as "spamming" is still unknown, email servers will not have to filter outbound email as permitted network or domain. In other words, email sent from outside your company network is allowed to relay through your email server. It is convenient for companies related to each other at that time to share a common server email because most internet access is via dial-up lines and the value of a dedicated line is still too expensive. Every now and then, an unknown sender will get access relay but most network administrators that would just turn a blind eye even if it works spoke of bad netiquette. After all, the internet is still about sharing during the day.

Over time, the abusers come. The network administrator is slow in plugging the open relay because this kind of activity is still unknown and no patch is available for software server. The server software makers are only prepared this new form of network abuse. When the software makers will be able to solve the problem open relay, damage is too great to contain. The abusers now have discovered a new principle even without means of getting their message across. The cat and mouse chase is on.

A decade later, the chase is still on and it is quite evident the mouse is running rings around the cat. Spammers are still using their old reliable open relay scanner scours the net for the leaky email servers. But these days, not just spammers looking for leaks, they will join the hunt by cyber criminals. While spammers send no more than annoying marketing pitches, the cyber criminals can actually clean out your bank accounts by phishing scams email them out.

If you are new to phishing, this is the means by which scammers send you an official looking email from such your bank, credit card company or a website that you have done business with. They give you the story that they need you to update your account or you risk cancellation. And you must click a link in the email takes you to a website where you can update your personal information. The link is actually a cleverly disguised web server to gather personal information input. Once the information is in the hands of the scammer, you know what they do next.

Many phishing email fraud 'method of operation is taken from the spammer's manual – use open relays unsuspecting email servers. Open relays are often the result of absence the ability of managers, lack of knowledge, carelessness or outright laziness. Most modern Unix / linux based email server with anti-relaying mechanism built in, and while we have no experience with Windows-based email servers, we would like to think that with the ability to Windows based server software makers should have incorporated this feature as well. No set formula for configuring an email server, every business has its own unique needs and policies to follow. But the faithful must that once the requirements and rules are in place, should be turned anti-relaying.

Email is probably the most widely used tool in the online world. That is really the reason why spammers and scammers exploit it to the max – the payoffs could be great. By making sure your company's email server is not an open relay, Also you are disallowing the spammers and scammers from eating your network bandwidth. But more importantly, you are saving lots of email users from unwanted junk and being victimized by cyber criminals. If you do not particularly care about doing this for others, do it for yourself because the next potential phishing victim could be you.

About the Author

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Learn more about phishing email scams and other threats to your computer. Visit www.emailantivirus.info today.

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