KR20080037605A - System, method and device for trapping mass-delivery electronic messages - Google Patents

Abstract

System and method for substantially preventing mass-delivery and/or unsolicited electronic messages from reaching an end user's electronic message address. A filter is used to either pass or fail a message, to recognize a pass-phrase, to deliver electronic messages to a first mailbox of an end user when the pass-phrase is identified or when the message passes the filter criteria, and to send the message to an alternative mailbox when the pass-phrase is not identified and the message fails said filter criteria. The alternative mailbox has a mailbox name different than the first mailbox name, and has a reply address set to a different electronic message address. The alternative mailbox is configured to receive electronic messages delivered through the filter and send a reply containing a human instruction to the electronic message address of the received electronic message, the human instruction indicating a pass-phrase. This invention offers a method of ensuring compatibility among all active spam handling systems thereby avoiding feedback loops and allowing massdeployment of such systems regardless of the specific method used.

Description

SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRAPPING MASS-DELIVERY ELECTRONIC MESSAGES}

The present invention is directed to a system and method for substantially preventing undesired electronic messages being mass transmitted reaching the target user's electronic message address.

The present invention relates to a new method of preventing mass transfer and / or unnecessary electronic messages (spam or junk mail).

The technology involves hybrid access, a filtering technique on both the server and the user, based on a new concept of spam traps that distinguish between computer-generated email and email from human senders.

This technology provides reliable protection against the transmission of legitimate email and without having to check the repository of junk e-mails by false positives and legitimate e-mails as spam.

The invention does not require the user to download an email to filter it, and therefore applies to all of the user's email retrieval points without additional software or configuration.

The system uses a human-centered approach to avoid false positives.

Filtered messages are identified by humans who can understand the instructions to bypass the filter, for example, "Resend the message using a three-word sentence in the title field."

Such expressions, which can be easily understood by human beings, are inherently impossible to computer readable with current technology.

Mail exchange (MX) records are listed in a domain name database that recognizes mail servers. The mail server is used for email control for domain names.

Once received from an MX host, there are two basic ways to control spam: it is filtering on the server side or on the user side.

Server-side filtering is when an MX host provides a built-in spam filter that can process mail before it enters a user's inbox.

MX Logic of Denver (CO) is a company that provides this service to users who authorize MX records via their servers.

This attempt limits spam and applies to all recovery points at the same time. However, there is no fail-safe method of protecting false positives. So users should constantly check the "junkmail" folder to avoid missing legitimate mail.

Earthlink of Atlanta (GA) provides a service called spamBlocker that provides three levels of protection: off, medium and known spam. Suspicious emails and known spam protection)

The intermediate step blocks known spam and the highest level blocks all senders except senders with a user's white list.

In Earthlink's website, the highest level is described as follows. : “(Best Protection) Suspect Email Blocking-Do you really want to be 100% protected? Filter all mail from senders that are not in your personal address book. You can read the messages in the Suspect Email folder at any time. Slink can also send you a daily summary of suspicious messages. ”

EarthLink provides an ambitious messaging system using the "Llowed Sender Request Form."

These active response technologies are effective but are not emergency safeguards. Because the techniques rely on the user taking action to communicate with a sender. In other words, this requires the user to check for false positives and manage all legitimate senders as well as senders who do not know.

The Authorized Sender Request Form is particularly burdensome for business users who receive email from unknown senders and those who do not want to spend time managing junk mail folders or responding to authorization requests.

Available from your system, for example, Qurb, Inc. of San Mateo, CA, and Symantec Corporation of Cupertino, CA, you can Typically, you use your own program to move it to a folder so you can see it.

In addition, user-side systems use an “affirmative response technique” to censor suspect messages until the sender responds to a challenge message.

In response to the challenge message, the censorship is removed and presented to the user.

Although the curve uses a challenge method, it does not rely on human interference to bypass the filter, and all that is needed is a simple response.

User-side systems have the disadvantage that they must be downloaded to the user in order for the email to be processed.

If an aggressive response method is used, this additionally requires an upload time for the challenge message to be sent.

This can be expensive for low bandwidth or mobile users.

Moreover, these types of systems must be applied at each point of retrieval.

For example, users who receive e-mail from their laptop PC while at work, home and travel need to install and configure the software.

If you use any other point of retrieval, such as a public terminal at an Internet cafe, or receive email on another pocket platform, such as a PDA or mobile phone, these users will be Not protected.

All forms of systems use a heuristic, statistical, and reputation-based approach that applies to criteria and rules. The Criteria and rules determine the justification for passing or blocking email.

User adjustment settings are often provided and allow the user to adjust the filter to low, medium, or high.

In general, users can create "white lists" and "black lists" (always approved or always blocked).

Some systems can provide a "training" method that improves the accuracy of the filter over time.

Many systems use a way to deliver human-readable messages for security.

For example, Dulles's American Online of Dulles (VA) uses an image of a stylized passphrase that the user interprets to reset the user's access password in the event of a user's two failed logons.

However, this concept applies to the residue message in the form of an email processing system used for spam filters.

Such applications are not clearly dictated by the Anti-Spam Technical Alliance Technology and Policy Proposal prepared by the Anti-Spam Alliance.

This group of experts from leading Internet service providers, software companies, and telecommunications companies (including Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, Comcast, and others) failed to gain access to the challenge of spam.

The method of SolidBlue Software of Ontario, Canada, uses Slink's aggressive approach, but they provide via their website linked to an MX host.

The sender receives a challenge message in a web link; After the following link they can read the stylized key and enter the website key according to their email address.

At that time, the sender's mail is delivered to the user.

This is an elegant system, but it requires the user to reset their MX records through the company's servers.

This requirement is self-limiting broad deployment because it is unreasonable to anticipate all email users who want to avoid spam to use Mx host ownership.

Like the EarthLink system, SolidBlue users cannot adjust the keys, and thus do not have the opportunity to benefit from the diversity of the passphrase system, i.e. multiple steps, temporary storage, protection from children.

In addition, writing your email address on a website is the most spam-conscious user will be reluctant to do so.

In fact, spammers use fake challenge messages to direct unsuspecting e-mailers to validate their addresses in increasing targets.

This is not a problem of passphrase access; There are no external links, and ultimately it is the user who decides whether or not to use passphrases in previously sent emails.

All of the positive responses share a common disadvantage: the interaction between them is beyond expectation.

There is no guaranteed compatibility. Thus, if an Earthlink user who sent a message to a SolidBlue user is blocked as spam, the challenge message sent from SolidBlue will also be authenticated as spam by the Slink system.

The feedback loop result and the original message can never pass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We accidentally found a very effective way to block spam messages without the user having to monitor "junk files". The method ensures that legitimate callers are not unfairly filtered. In addition, this new system can be operated remotely, eliminating the need for consuming user bandwidth. And it applies to all search points and platforms at the same time.

The way is to use human language and understanding as a means of filtering email.

The user sets a rule for an electronic message, such as an incoming e-mail, so that messages containing a specific pass-phrase, preferably in the subject line, are always allowed.

An automatic reply to block the caller tells the caller how to avoid the trap using a pass phrase. You can change the passphrase whenever you need it, and set up an authorization list and a blacklist. There is no need to change the email path or MX records.

A large number of server-side processing as long as the system can reject the filtered email, forward the rejected mail to another address, and automatically pass an email containing the set pass phrase, preferably in the subject line. The system may be used.

In addition, if the system according to the invention is deployed for public use, mail servers will require a means of checking that a given message is an automatic reply sent from another user of the system.

Otherwise, an instruction message containing passphrase information may be incorrectly identified as spam, thereby generating a new challenge message in the feedback loop of the email.

One simple way to avoid this is for the sender's sending mail server to keep a record of the subject field in the database for a while. The user's autoreply template leaves the original subject line intact when sending an instruction message. The sender's mail server then compares the subject line of the received email with the originating database in a way that matches.

Programming to do this is simple and can be easily integrated into any email processing system.

Alternatively, other methods of establishing a unique identification element (hereinafter referred to as UIE) or other criteria based on the outgoing message may be used as a "fingerprint" for filtering purposes.

Reston's XO Communications, VA, provides satisfactory server-side filtering in their email hosting service. Many forms of user-side systems use something like MS Outlook, which provides the ability to set rules for replying and processing incoming email.

The present invention uses a designated computer to continuously receive and respond to filtered email. If a computer that produces spam is called a "zombie," the new system is an "anti-zombie" designed to eat spam.

The anti-zombie receives the filtered e-mail and responds to the autoresponse message.

The message explains the filtering process and teaches the sender how to disable the filter.

What happens next depends on whether the original sender is a human or silicon chip.

The sender will receive the message "Your email has been filtered by my PC for spam. Please send your message using the fourth word of this sentence in your subject line."

If an email was sent by a human, they know that they should insert the word "filtered" in the subject line. And their email will be automatically sent to the user when they are resent.

If the original email is spam, nothing happens or an unreachable notification, for example a 55x SMTP error code will be returned (Antizombies use a separate return address for this purpose).

Optionally, the subject line of the filtered e-mail will be prepended with a specific word or phrase, thereby allowing additional control over the e-mail processing.

For example, a user may create a message with a passphrase to facilitate being registered as a legitimate sender on the authorization list when sending a mail.

Of course, other methods of additional filtration and treatment will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In addition, various logics are possible, such as teaching first-time senders to deliver instructional emails to users rather than resending their original message.

Methods such as response rules may automatically prepend a phrase to the subject line to simplify the bypass process for the sender.

This invention presents an ideal spam trap. The invention does not require the download of an email to filter the email to the user. The invention applies to all search points. In addition, the present invention provides a highly reliable mechanism to avoid false positives by using human-dependent instructions to avoid traps. The invention does not require the transport of MX records to a new path. And the invention can exist anywhere on the Internet.

Most importantly, the present invention is an emergency safety, in which the user does not need to monitor the false positives of the junk mail folder or take action to allow e-mails received from unknown senders. The system works alone and operates without any burden on the user.

The filtered sender ultimately depends on whether they are human or not. This system allows unknown senders to reach the user without user intervention or blocking large amounts of computer-generated email.

This is important for business users who frequently receive emails from unusual strangers.

The present invention is a service provided to a user via the Internet or installed in a black box attached to the user's network.

It is integrated into hardware such as PCs and Microchip's circuit boards.

The invention is directly integrated into an email retrieval software application for easy management and configuration.

This is considered a software interface to supply such things as an important user contact database to the server-side filter's authorization list.

The present invention relates to existing MS Exchange emails such as POP3, IMAP, or instant message (IM), short message service (SMS), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), wireless local area network (LAN), ad-hoc (ad-hoc) may be applied to computer networks, or other electronic communication protocols (collectively "electronic messages") or analog signals such as radio.

In this case, a challenge or instruction message may be a signal that can be recognized by any kind of human, to prevent false positives, and the messages may be based on the Internet. May be transmitted by a network system. The present invention may be applied to a mobile phone to prevent hacking on the mobile phone by an unauthorized attacker.

The present invention provides a method for an application system to generate unique identification elements (UIEs). The UIEs are generated by the sending mail application, recorded in the server side filter, and used as part of the approval list for a certain time. It also returns UIEs from the caller so that the same method can be used by other compliant systems. This technique prevents feedback mechanisms and effectively prevents spam when sending and receiving mail with other users.

One embodiment is that the sending mail server maintains a record of the sender's subject line for a period of time. When a challenge message is sent, the autoreply template of the active system that handles the spam message leaves the original subject line intact. The sender's mail server then compares the subject line of the received email with the sent database. At this point, the matched pair passes the challenge message. Programming to achieve this is simple and can easily be implemented in any system that handles email. Alternatively, other methods of identifying a UIE or other metric based on an outgoing message can be used as a "fingerprint" for filtering.

One form of UIE is a checksum. Ronald L. Rivest, a professor at MIT, earned his degree with the MD5 method of checksum calculation. The MD5 algorithm takes as input a message of any length, producing an output of 128-bit "fingerprint" or 128-bit "message digest" for the input.

It is inferred that it is not possible to generate two messages with the same message digest or to generate any message with a given prespecified target message digest. Open sources for other operating systems based on Microsoft Windows and MD5 checksum applications are available at www.fastsum.com and http://www.turkprogrammer.com/2005/01/md5-hash-algorithm_23. You can find it in .html .

Such systems are typically used for digital signature applications. In the present invention, a simple utility can generate a checksum from the body of the outgoing email. The checksum may be included in the title field and compete with the temporary white list. Alternatively, it may be communicated as a separate meta-element of the message, such as a special field in the header. Compliant systems will include the UIE as received, including any challenge messages generated within the same field and not changed. It is planned that UIEs or checksums can be reduced for enhanced security or efficiency.

Spammers rely on responses from the small percentages of a huge number of messages to make them financially rich. But a small percentage of messages will arrive, and the number of responses will be infinite. Thus, the widespread use of the present invention may one day eliminate the presence of spam together; The financial incentives for sending spam will evaporate quickly, so nobody will receive it in essence. Naturally, the present invention is a "silver bullet" needed to end spam forever.

Moreover, the present invention provides other forms of communication besides email, such as instant message ("IM"), short message services ("SMS"), hypertext transport protocol ( "HTTP"), wireless local area networks ("LAN") connections, ad-hoc computer networks, or other electronic communication protocols (collectively "electronic messages") Applicable to

Detailed description of the invention

Returning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of the "spam trap" system utilized or created through an electronic message processing server.

The electronic message processing server includes, for example, a computer. Incoming electronic messages, such as e-mail for mailboxes, such as med@silon.com used in the flow chart, are received by the MX record host (e.g., XO Communications), and are pre-set. established) and / or filtered according to suitable criteria. In this example, the electronic message processing server includes an email server, and email passing the server-sided test is delivered to the user. The email that failed the test is (optionally) prepended with the word "JunkMail" in the subject line, and thus sent to an alternative mailbox, such as med@silon.com | JunkMail . The anti-zombie retrieves an email from med@silon.com JunkMail and responds to a template message (eg filtered). The reply address of the outgoing message becomes an independent email address, such as junk1@silon.com . The same anti-zombie uses the independent email account (eg junk1@silon.com ) to retrieve or delete any responses to the challenge message. When an undeliverable notice is received in response to a challenge message, the undeliverable alert is sent to the trap (e.g. junk1@silon.com ), so that the user is sent without valid return addresses. Protected against undeliverable alerts returned from the sender, loops of rejected email and flooded bandwidth do not occur.

The filtered electronic messages are for example sent to the sender who understands the instructions to modify or resend the subject line of the original email containing a pass-phrase. Sent again.

In the subject field (in this case, "filtered" using a wildcard (* 's) for example * filtered * thus does not care the position of the word in the subject field) Rules are set on the server to accept all emails, including pass-phrases. When the modified message bypasses the filter after being resent, the word "Trapped" is prepended to the title. In this way, the user is automatically reminded that the caller who has bypassed the trap and additional processing, for example white or black listing, may be facilitated. do.

2, a block diagram illustrating the apparatus of the present invention. In this preferred embodiment, a network interface card (NIC) provides a connection to the Internet and to the user's computer, wherein the central processing unit (CPU) of the user's computer is a computer use. In performing computational work, the nonvolatile storage device (e.g., Hard Drive) preferably comprises email retrieval software and an operating system. Saving. Optionally, video processor and human interface devices for graphics output may be used, for example, for keyboard and mouse, user interaction. Alternatively, user access can be provided using a standard web browser for remote configuration and maintenance.

Referring to Figure 3, a flow diagram of the system (user) of the present invention is shown for interacting with a second system (sender) that is designed to generate a UIE or include it in a message. The sender's mail host maintains a record of UIEs, such as the subject line or other unique identifier, or a metric for a period of time. The UIE is returned including an autoreply moving through the user system and including a human instruction; And any message comprising the UIE at the sender's mail server that avoids and / or minimizes the potential for cross-response between two or more users of the present invention otherwise forming a feedback loop of email. Are made to pass through.

The present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the following examples are capable of various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. For example, the anti-zombies need not be independent or dedicated machines, even though this is a priority. This can be a background process on your system. Even if it uses wide bandwidth and processing power, it can occur between off-hours or other functions. Alternatively, it is possible to be able to operate continuously throughout the day beyond the standard workload.

Moreover, the anti zombie system need not be physically located in the user's network. Anywhere with internet access is sufficient. It is expected that banks of anti-zombies can be used to provide filtering services to a large number of remote users.

In addition, the instructional message attaches a human language or visual or a combination of each, for example an image of a cat, to the subject line for the recipient to pass the filter test. You will be instructed to enter the type of animal. In such cases, several automatic acceptance rules can be used to ensure passage, for example "cat", "feline" and "felis catus".

Creative users have an infinite range of ways to use things like simple logic puzzles, jokes, limes, or "fill-in-the-blank" sentences.

Additionally or alternatively, auditory instructions can be used by sending verbal instructions in the form of audio files. The auditory instructions can optionally be used alone or in combination with one or more other instructions, such as for example visual or verbal instructions. All of these techniques are described by the person **************** Next! (P 14 last line)

In addition, multiple or dynamic Pass-Phrases can be used for other classes of callers who always work for family members, such as "Uncle Joe." The passphrase may also be set to be discarded after a predetermined period of time, due to enhanced communication security. Temporary or disposable passphrases can be particularly useful for entering a user's email address in a particular timeframe, without the user worrying about receiving unwanted email on the website. Passphrases can be controlled by the administrator who manages the company's communications or by parents who are concerned about their children being exposed to email. It can be assumed that an interactive process of sending and receiving pass phrases is also possible. The web interface instructs the user to select "personal" or "business", "individual" requests grandmother Nini's last name, and "business" requests the user's business trademark. There are numerous possibilities for the human dependent taxonomy possible with the present invention. The diversity and creativity of human thinking limits the way in which passphrases are delivered to desirable callers.

The entire system can be built with an interface that can be accessed by a user with a standard web browser. Thus, a complete computer system with a human interface is not required. Most of the usefulness can be satisfied with only an independent unit where the user's network can be registered as a "black box" sample without a keyboard or monitor. These devices may not require a virus scan program because the traps will not work in any email. Preferably, it may be a card or a processor provided in the PC. Preferably, the present invention may be configured as a "trap on chip". From a software perspective, the system can be provided as a component of an email recovery application that can facilitate the creation and deletion of lists, changes to passphrases, and the like.

Since it depends on the sensitivity of the filter that can be set high for users of the present invention because it is provided on the server side and there is no threat to false positives, positive errors such as unauthorized spam are possible with the present invention. Become. However, this can nevertheless be made possible by spammers taking advantage of the opportunity to use the correct passphrase in their subject line. It is conceivable that a spammer can employ a countermeasure against the present invention by inserting random words into their spam subject line, hoping to be delivered to a large number of users. However, even if spammers use this method, they will suffer from very low delivery rates because the size of the subject line (256 characters in MS Outlook) is limited.

It may be contemplated that changes in the infrastructure of electronic message delivery affect the present invention, such as by creating fields specified in the electronic message, particularly for passphrases and / or unique authentication elements, such fields or fields Separate from the line and the message itself. By changing the passphrase from time to time and / or using complex passphrases (numbers, symbols, letters and letters, uppercase and lowercase, etc.), AI usage drastically reduces the likelihood of spam being delivered to users. The present invention is adopted. Spammers rely on the response of a very small percentage of a huge amount of messages to make this attempt financially valuable. However, if you can tolerate a very small percentage of messages, many responses will be extremely small. In conclusion, if no one receives it, the financial motive for sending spam will quickly disappear, so the widespread use of the present invention could one day eliminate the existence of all spam. The present invention will be the "silver bullet" required to end spam forever.

In addition, the present invention provides instant messaging (“IM”), short message service (“SMS”), hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), wireless local area network (“LAN”) connectivity, and Ed-Hock in addition to email. ad-hoc) computer networks, or other electronic communication protocols (including " electronic messages ") or other types of communications such as analog signals. The test message in this case can be any kind of artificial signal avoiding false positives, and these messages can be delivered by any communication network whether or not it is internet based. With this approach, the server may be any type of accumulator including message filtering means capable of rejecting or receiving messages in accordance with predetermined criteria. Then, the accumulator transmits the received message to the receiver station and the rejected message to the confirmation station. The acknowledgment base station then integrates the artificial intelligence false positive rejection signal (ie passphrase) and responds to the rejected message.

1 is a flow chart of a "spam trap" system in accordance with the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention,

3 is a flow diagram of a user's first system of "spam traps" of the present invention working with a sender's second system, wherein the outgoing mail server of the second system creates a unique confirmation element ("UIE"). And an automatic ripple instructional message from the user of the present invention is returned to the UIE, and the filter of the second system recognizes the UIE and receives the autoreply messages. Pass it through,

4 is a flow diagram of a "spam trap" system in accordance with the present invention, wherein the sender is instructed to send the challenge message instead of resending and thereby returning the original message to the UIE. The original correspondence is preferably included in the ripple message,

5 is a flow chart of a first system of any active spam processing system of a user working with a sender's second active system, wherein the outgoing mail server of the second system generates and records a UIE; The automatic ripple indication message from the returns the UIE unchanged, and the filter of the second system recognizes the UIE and passes the automatic ripple messages.

<Example 1>

The server side system of the XO communication company is set as follows.

Username: med@silon.com

POP3: ****. Silon.com

SMTP: ****. silon.com

Filtering degree: Serious (including 34 rules based on generated list)

Deny rule:

1) Remove: Junk E-mail (optional)

2) send: med@silon.com|junkmail

Ingress rule

1) If title contains "filtered", remove it with "[trap]"

2) Deliver to User

Anti-Zombie (P4 Dell 8100 PC running Windows ME)

MS Outlook 2000:

Email check every 5 minutes

med@silon.com|Receive emails from junk mail

Return address setting: junk1@silon.com

Response rule: filtered in the MS Outlook template file (see Exhibit 2) . Automatic response with oft

Response rule: Delete message

Receive emails from junk1@silon.com

Response rule: Delete message

Since the deletion rules are not set to "permanently delete", the user can get information on how many emails are filtered and trapped. Because it allows the user to define settings, the user can monitor the trapped actions.

Attachment 3 shows the response received from the filtered sender (markdillon@aol.com), and the modified message can be received by the user (med@silon.com).

By immediately executing the above-mentioned spam trap, the inventors could experience a rapid and rapid decrease in the amount of spam received. Attachment 4 shows the email traffic log for the user for a representative 24 hour period. The table below summarizes the results.

Outcomes of Spam Trap

Forwarded email 24 hours med@silon.com|Junk Mail 115 junk1@silon.com 82 med@silon.com 6

The table above shows 115 messages blocked (including 82 with unauthenticated reply addresses) and 6 authenticated emails sent to the user (many unauthenticated reply addresses sent to junk1@silon.com). It is shown roughly because it may have responded to a test sent 24 hours ago, but these emails are offset by the fact that a number of similar messages are sent to an invalid address, but the overall cycle represents a typical activity level for the user, and Since the system has been properly maintained for several days, it does not return to the end of the 24-hour period.) Email received by med@silon.com|junkmail, which is equal to the total message 115, is eventually checked manually before being processed. Filtered by XO server-side filter requesting. Emails (6 messages) that are passed to the user after the first pass or modification are collected at med@silon.com.

The manual review of the Outlook transmission items contained in the Anti-Zombie did not show any false positives except for one message that was modified by the user and consequently passed the trap. No positive errors are shown.

In another embodiment mentioned in the present invention, all fluid email services are not modified for an output mail server using the usual method of attaching UIE to mail and returning UIE from a received test message, thus An activated method of detecting positive response or spam may be compatible with other methods. They allow responses with UIE attached to recently sent emails to go through their own filters. If no recipient is found, the server may periodically delete the record from the UIE database because it is determined that the email cannot be sent after a few days, thereby keeping it small. The programming to achieve this is simple and does not place a load on the computer.

Since the UIE originates from the output email, there is no room for abuse by spammers. This approach can provide a universal basis for the activated spam filters to avoid each other's feedback loop, even if they use passphrases or other positive response techniques.

Returning to the figure, FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of a "spam trap" system in accordance with similar patents of the inventor that may be set up or used as an electronic message processing server. The electronic message processing server may be made of, for example, a computer. Computers perform computer tasks, and non-volatile storage (e.g., hard drives) preferably stores email recovery software and an operating system (OS). Optionally, a video processor for graphical output and human interface devices such as a keyboard and a mouse can be used for user interaction. Alternatively, the user may be allowed access by standard web browser methods for remote configuration and maintenance.

Referring to FIG. 5, a flowchart shows an activated spam management system that interacts with a second system (sender) each configured to use a mutually fluid UIE system. The sender's mail host maintains a record of the UIE, such as, for example, a subject line or other unique authenticator or function for a time period. The UIE is performed through the user's system and returned with an automatic response to the test message, and a filter at the sender's mail server is set to pass any message including the UIE, thus allowing both of the active spam management systems to pass through. Eliminate the possibility of interactive response between or more users.

Changes in the underlying organization of the electronic message may affect the invention.

For example, by creating a designated field, particularly in an electronic message for UIE, the field is separated by the subject and body of the message.

In addition, the data may be analyzed, processed, and inserted into designated fields within the header or other metadata sectors of the message.

Since changes in these designs and processes can occur without departing from the broad inventive concept of the invention, it is not limited to the following examples of the invention.

While the invention may be described in terms of particular embodiment, the description is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the invention.

Various changes and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein and defined in the dependent claims.

Example 2: A server side mail handling system is in the following state.

Username: mark@spamtrap-az.com

Post office protocol version 3 (POP3): pop3.spamtrap-az.com

Simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP): smtp.spamtrap-az.com

Filter adjustment: Medium-High (plus white-list)

Failure Policy:

1) Prepend: JunkMail (any)

2) Delivery: mark @, spamtrap-az.com | JunkMail

Passing Rules:

1) If filtered in the title, it is prepended to "[Trapped]",

2) If the title matches the resident UIE database, it is prepended to "[Challenge]",

3) It is delivered to the user.

Resident Database:

1) Save the line of the outgoing title

2) perform the matching and passing algorithm

3) Remove the records after 5 days.

Active spam handling system for applications connected with my application:

Microsoft Outlook 2000:

1) Check your email every 5 minutes

2) Receive an email from mark@spamtrap-az.com|JunkMail

3) Return to the address junld@spamtrap-az.com

4) Application Rules: Often auto-bounced to filtered Microsoft Outlook templates (see Attachment 5-subject line remains unchanged and contains original message upon return)

5) Application Rules: Delete the message.

6) Send an e-mail to Junk1@spamtrap-az.com.

7) Application Rules: Delete the message.

Outgoing system:

1) Record outgoing subject fields in the temporary database.

2) Recognize the contents of the subject fields of incoming messages and compare them with the database. And allow pass through for matches.

3) Outgoing Active Returns the subject field of the incoming message as the minimum part of the subject field in any challenge message generated by the spam handling system.

Example 3:

The extension application runs a subroutine ("subroutine A") in an email application, such as Microsoft Outlook, which uses an electronic message host that uses an active spam handling system.

Subroutine A creates a UIE (unique identifier), such as the MD5 checksum, and then prepends or inserts it into the subject line of the message leaving the UIE when the send button is clicked.

Optionally, subroutine A labels the data for convenience in encoding UIE, terminating the calculation process, or vice versa for convenience (ie, prepending or appending a specified symbol or symbols).

The outgoing mail server recognizes UIE and uses another subroutine ("subroutine B") to make UIE part of the database according to the timestamp.

The mail server's filtering system compares the input from the incoming email with the outgoing database and applies another subroutine ("subroutine C") to act on the input for filtering purposes.

When matched, subroutine C passes the message as if subroutine C is the user's approval list. Another subroutine ("subroutine D") removes the database records about 5 days after a predetermined time. Optionally, subroutine D or another subroutine may be permanent so that all future messages from the sender can be automatically received. It is possible to enter an email address for a verified sender on an authorization list, and furthermore, subroutines B, C and D etc. can be combined in one software application or can work individually or in subgroups.

Extension applications that run subroutine A also recognize UIEs contained in some of the incoming messages, and other users of compliant systems automatically receive challenge messages sent by users running subroutine A. Return the same parts of the UIE that have not changed to accept.

While the invention may be described in terms of particular embodiment, the description is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the invention.

Various changes and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein and defined in the dependent claims.

Attachment 2

Filtered: Microsoft Outlook Template

Subject: Your mail to me has been filtered

Your recent email to me has been filtered by my computer as spam.

Do not respond to this message, but change the subject line of your message containing the word "filtered" and resend it.

You should not see this message again. If you are still having problems, please call me at +1 610-530-3193 or fax me at +1 610-530-3194 to contact me.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Mark Dylan

med (at) si Ion. com

Attachment 3

Automatically respond with filtered sender from Anti-Zombie

Subject: Your email to me has been filtered

Date: 2/13/2005 4:12:58 PM Eastern Standard Time

From: junki @ silon.com

To: MarkDillon@aol.com

Page 1 of 1

Sunday, February 12 2005 United States Online: Mark Dylan

Your recent email that came to me was filtered by my computer as spam.

Do not respond to this message, but change the subject line of your message containing the word "filtered" and resend it.

You should not see this message again. If you are still having problems, please call me at +1 610-530-3193 or fax me at +1 610-530-3194 to contact me.

I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Mark Dylan

med (at) si Ion. com

Modified message received from user:

Mark Dylan

From: MarkDillon@aol.com

Sent Sunday, February 13th, 2005 7:17 PM

To: med@silon.com

Subject: Viagra Mortgage Certificate [Captured] Canadian Pharmacy Filtrated

Page 1 of 1

2/13/2005

Spam Test Sunday, February 13 at 4:11 PM

Resending Sunday February 13 7:15 PM

Attachment 4

The following table is the POP3 log for the period from 12:00 AM Saturday February 12, 2005 to 12:00 AM Sunday February 13, 2005 from XO Communications.

The data shows the number of emails received from the user and two anti-zombie accounts.

The lists show the time, mail server ID, user account, action, originating IP address and the number of messages on the server.

The next line shows the logout and deletes the operations performed on that account.

(Note: You must re-download from your main computer terminal again.

Retrieve email from a remote PC that has left a copy of the message on the server. This is why emails to med@silon.com are not deleted after searching. All messages shown on the server accumulate until 6 on 22:42:52 until 12 February 2005.

Attachment 5

Filtered: Microsoft Outlook template with application theme for expansion (unchanged from sender)

Your recent email to me has been filtered by my computer for spam.

I also use a spamtrap compliant system. Please forward this message back to me without leaving the subject line unchanged.

You should not see this message again. If you are still having trouble please call me at 555-5555 to contact me.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Mark Dylan

mark (at) spamtrap-az. com

(First message attached below)

Claims (25)

A system for preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching a target user's electronic message address, Electronic message processing server; A filter configured to recognize a pass phrase and pass or block a message based on a predetermined set of criteria, If the passphrase is confirmed or the message passes the filter criteria, the electronic message is delivered to the first mailbox, and if the passphrase is not confirmed or the filter criteria are not met, it is sent to the substitute mailbox, where the substitute mailbox is the first mail. Has a different name from the box and also has a reply address different from the electronic message address, wherein the substitute mailbox receives the electronic message delivered through the filter and indicates a pass phrase for the electronic message address of the received electronic message. A system configured to send a reply containing a human instruction. The method according to claim 1, The electronic message processing server has a unique identification element derived from the electronic message sent out, The reply containing the human recognizable instruction includes the unique identifying element, And the filter is configured to automatically pass only electronic messages containing the unique identification element. Preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address. The method according to claim 1, The system a filter bypass comprising a listing of authorized senders with an electronic message address that can pass through the filter, whether the pass phrase is present in the current message or meets the filter criteria; b. listing the approved senders, at least in part by a response from the indicator identifying the message that has passed the filter, and if there is a response, adding the user's electronic message address to the approved sender list; c. the instructions of the human being, when the electronic message is sent to a user's first mailbox, comprising a text, graphic or auditory instruction or a combination thereof, wherein the electronic message is used as a pass phrase for passing the filter; d. a self-sufficient stand-alone unit with or without direct human interface components disposed in electronic communication with the user's electronic message processing server; e. a remotely located processing unit in electronic communication with the user's electronic message processing server via the Internet; A system comprising at least one of the. A method of preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching a target user's electronic message address, a.Provide an electronic message processing server computer b. providing a first mailbox having a first electronic message address; c. providing a filter for filtering the content of the electronic message based on a predetermined set of criteria; d. setting the filter to recognize a pass phrase that allows an electronic message to pass through the filter; e. comparing the electronic message with the pass phrase for verification of a pass phrase; f. If the pass phrase is confirmed or the electronic message passes the filter criteria, the electronic message is sent to the first mailbox of the target user. If the pass phrase is not confirmed or the electronic message does not meet the filter criteria, the electronic message is sent. Sending a message to a substitute mailbox having a reply address set to a different name from the first mailbox and an electronic message address different from the first mailbox; g. receiving, by the substitute mailbox, an e-mail sent from the filter; h. sending a reply containing a human instruction representing a pass phrase to the electronic message address of the received electronic message using another reply address of the alternate mailbox; i. receiving an electronic message from the electronic message address to which the passphrase was transmitted, recognizing the pass phrase with the filter, and transmitting the electronic message to a first mailbox of a target user; How to include. The method according to claim 4, The electronic message processing server has a unique identification element derived from the electronic message sent out, The reply containing the human recognizable instruction includes the unique identifying element, And the filter is configured to automatically pass only electronic messages that include the unique identification element. The method according to claim 4, The method is a. The filter is compared by comparing the address of the electronic message received by the filter with a list of authorized senders, whether an electronic message address can pass through the filter and be sent to the first mailbox, regardless of the presence of a pass phrase in the message. Bypassing; b. Instructs when a message received in the first mailbox has not previously passed the filter, and an electronic message address of an authorized sender whose electronic message address can pass through the filter, regardless of the presence of a pass phrase in the message. Generating a list of them; c. In using a pass phrase such that when the electronic message is sent to the user's first mailbox, the electronic message can pass through the filter, wherein the human instruction is a text, graph, auditory instruction, or combination thereof; d. In order to receive electronic message alerts that cannot be sent in response to the response containing the human instruction and to automatically remove all future electronic messages from the address of the non-transmittable electronic message alerts. Creating a list of electronic message addresses of electronic message alerts At least one or more or all of them. CLAIMS 1. A method of reducing mass interconnect electronic messages transmitted over a communications network and / or electrical interconnection to unwanted target receiving stations, the method comprising: a. providing a network having a first receiving station comprising message filtering means operably configured to distinguish between rejected and approved messages in accordance with predetermined criteria; b. providing an authorized station configured to receive and send electronic messages; c. providing a rejected message acknowledgment signal using said filtering means to distinguish whether at least one received message is a rejected message or an approved message; d. sending an approved message to the target receiving station; e. sending the rejected message to the authorization station; f. sending a reply message to the reply message with respect to the rejected message using the authorized station; g. if the reply message is received, includes a human error recognizable affirmative error prevention signal such that a human recognizes a recognizable error affirmative signal and that a response to the received reply message based on recognition and performance of the process can be transmitted. Replying to the message; How to include. The method according to claim 7, The receiving station is configured to recognize a unique identification element derived from an electronic message being sent, The reply message includes a human recognizable instruction including the unique identifying element, The filter is configured to automatically pass an electronic message containing the unique identifying element. A method of preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching a target user's electronic message address, a.The server side filter forwards the rejected electronic message to the surrogate address and provides at least one custom rule for automatic approval of the electronic message for delivery to the user address; b. a receiving computer receiving a server-filtered electronic message sent to the surrogate address and replying with a human recognizable instruction message about how to bypass the filter using the rule for automatic approval; How to include. The method according to claim 9, The electronic message processing server is configured to recognize a unique identification element derived from the electronic message being sent, The reply includes a human recognizable instruction including a unique identifying element, The filter is configured to automatically pass an electronic message containing the unique identifying element. The method according to claim 9, The method, a. Using a return address different from the user's return address when the receiving computer receives the instruction message to prevent the user from receiving a response; b. The server-side filter can be adjusted by the user (sensitivity); c. The server-side filter can accept a white-list and a black list; d. The server-side filter can be adjusted by using rules optimized by the user's practices. e. An optional tag may be used to mark the electronic messages processed by the automatic approval rule, such that the user recognizes that the electronic message is initially trapped and sends the sender in an acknowledgment or block list. Steps to make registration to any one. f. After processing, the receiving computer uses a rule to delete the filtered electronic message. g. Extracting the electronic message from the return address of the instruction message such that the user cannot receive a response corresponding to the instruction message or an electronic message generating a warning that it cannot be sent. h. The server-side filter can be adjusted by using rules optimized by the user's practices, can accept white-lists and black lists, and white-lists. Extract the electronic message from the return address of the instruction message so that the user cannot receive an electronic message that generates a response corresponding to the instruction message or a warning that it cannot be sent. Steps. i. Provided for remote control over the Internet. j. Steps provided as a standalone hardware system. At least one of the methods. An apparatus comprising a computer system for receiving and processing an electronic message as a result of a filtering process, the apparatus comprising: The computer system is configured to automatically respond to an electronic message having a human-dependent instruction for a method of bypassing the filtering process, the apparatus comprising a computer system for receiving and processing electronic messages. . The method according to claim 12, The apparatus includes a server for processing an electronic message to maintain a unique identification element from which electronic messages are sent, and the responses with the human-dependent instructions include the unique identification element, and the electronic message comprising the unique identification element. And a filter configured to automatically receive a message, the apparatus comprising a computer system for receiving and processing electronic messages. The method according to claim 12, The device, a. Filtering and processing rules applied to electronic messages can be customized by the end user b. A computer system is a remotely accessible device. c. A computer is a computer that uses a web-based interface for custom configuration of processing rules by a user. d. Apparatus wherein electronic messages sent and received after processing may be deleted. An apparatus comprising a computer system for receiving and processing electronic messages comprising at least any one of the apparatus. Provide the first mailbox with the first e-mail address, Provide a filter for filtering the content of electronic messages based on a set of criteria, Provide a user-defined pass-phrase, It provides a user defined challenge message that can provide human-readable instructions consisting of text, graphs, audio instructions, or a combination of both, to deliver large quantities of electronic messages sent to your computer over the Internet. Reducing step; Sending the user defined challenge message to an electronic message address (an electronic message address using a return address different from the return address of the user) of the received electronic message; And, Sending the electronic message to the first mailbox of the target user when the passphrase is confirmed or when the electronic message has passed the filter criteria Business method for providing a service to the Internet user comprising a. The method according to claim 15, Using a unique identification element when sending an electronic message to cause a response from another user to be received by the filter. The method according to claim 2, The system a filter bypass comprising a listing of authorized senders with an electronic message address that can pass through the filter, whether the pass phrase is present in the current message or meets the filter criteria; b. listing the approved senders, at least in part by a response from the indicator identifying the message that has passed the filter, and if there is a response, adding the user's electronic message address to the approved sender list; c. the instructions of the human being, when the electronic message is sent to a user's first mailbox, comprising a text, graphic or auditory instruction or a combination thereof, wherein the electronic message is used as a pass phrase for passing the filter; d. a self-sufficient stand-alone unit with or without direct human interface components disposed in electronic communication with the user's electronic message processing server; e. a remotely located processing unit in electronic communication with the user's electronic message processing server via the Internet; A system for preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching an electronic message address of a target user that includes one or more or all of the following. The method according to claim 5, The method, a. Bypass the filter by comparing the address of the electronic message received by the filter with a list of approved senders from which an electronic message address can pass through the filter and be sent to the first mailbox, whether or not a phrase exists in the message. Bypassing; b. Instructs when a message received in the first mailbox has not previously passed the filter, and an electronic message address of an authorized sender whose electronic message address can pass through the filter, regardless of the presence of a pass phrase in the message. Generating a list of them; c. In using a pass phrase such that when the electronic message is sent to the user's first mailbox, the electronic message can pass through the filter, wherein the human instruction is a text, graph, auditory instruction, or combination thereof; d. To receive electronic message alerts that cannot be sent in response to a response containing the human instruction and to automatically remove all future electronic messages from the address of the non-transmittable electronic message alerts. Creating a list of electronic message addresses for missing electronic message alerts Preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address comprising at least one of the following. The method according to claim 10, The method, a. Using a return address different from the user's return address when the receiving computer receives the instruction message to prevent the user from receiving a response; b. The server-side filter can be adjusted by the user (sensitivity); c. The server-side filter can accept a white-list and a black list; d. The server-side filter can be adjusted by using rules optimized by the user's practices. e. An optional tag may be used to mark the electronic messages processed by the automatic acknowledgment rule, so that the user recognizes that the electronic message is initially trapped and sends the sender in an acknowledgment or block list. Steps to make registration to any one. f. After processing, the receiving computer uses a rule to delete the filtered electronic message. g. Extracting the electronic message from the return address of the instruction message such that the user cannot receive a response corresponding to the instruction message or an electronic message generating a warning that it cannot be sent. h. The server-side filter can be adjusted by using rules optimized by the user's practices, can accept white-lists and black lists, and white-lists. Extract the electronic message from the return address of the instruction message so that the user cannot receive an electronic message that generates a response corresponding to the instruction message or a warning that it cannot be sent. Steps. i. Provided for remote control over the Internet. j. Steps provided as a standalone hardware system. Preventing mass shipments and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address comprising at least one of the following. The method according to claim 13, The device, a. Filtering and processing rules applied to electronic messages can be customized by the end user b. A computer system is a remotely accessible device. c. A computer is a computer that uses a web-based interface for custom configuration of processing rules by a user. d. Apparatus wherein electronic messages sent and received after processing may be deleted. An apparatus comprising a computer system for receiving and processing electronic messages comprising at least any one of the apparatus. The method according to claim 7, The method, Responding to the rejected message with a human recognizable error affirmative signal, further reducing the electrical interconnection to the mass transmission electronic message and / or unwanted target receiving station transmitted over the communication network. Way. Electronic message processing server; It is configured to recognize the pass phrase and comprises a filter for passing or blocking a message based on a predetermined set of criteria, If the passphrase is verified or the message passes the filter criteria, the electronic message is forwarded to the first destination mail server. If the passphrase is not verified or the filter criteria are not met, the alternate destination mail server is sent. Wherein the substitute destination mail server has a different name than the first destination mail server, and also has a reply address different from the electronic message address, and the substitute destination mail server receives the electronic message delivered through the filter. Prevent mass mailing and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address, which is configured to receive and send a reply containing a human instruction representing a pass phrase to the electronic message address of the received electronic message. system. A method of substantially preventing mass delivery and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address, When returned from an application system, two or more as part of sending a challenge message, in order for each system to recognize a response corresponding to a challenge message generated by some other active spam manipulation system. Generating two or more active spam manipulation systems comprising each arrangement for recognizing the UIE in a response message. In a system that substantially prevents mass delivery and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address, When returned from an application system, at least one infant is part of a challenge message transmission in order for each system to recognize a response corresponding to a challenge message generated by some other active spam manipulation system. Means for generating a UIE and recognizing the UIE in a response message. A mechanism that substantially prevents mass delivery and / or unnecessary electronic messages from reaching the target user's electronic message address, The generation system to recognize a response corresponding to a challenge message when returned from an application system arranged for generating one or more infants (UIEs) as part of the transmission of a challenge message. And the receiving system is arranged to recognize a response corresponding to a challenge message generated by some other active spam manipulation system, and generates at least one infant (UIE) as part of sending a challenge message. And a computer arranged to recognize an infant in the response message.

Images