The e-mail we rely on to keep us “connected” is exasperated by the growing number of unsolicited commercial messages that clog our in-boxes and interfere with our normal course of business. If this sounds familiar, congratulations, you’ve got spam!

In the near future, industry experts predict spam will comprise 50% of all electronic mail! Despite the rapid increase in spamming, your battle against it doesn’t have to be a full-time job. Compuquip Technologies offers a range of spam-fighting products that not only filter out junk e-mails but also help you to maintain the integrity of your network’s security system.

For example, Aladdin Knowledge Systems’ eSafe anti-spam, anti-virus and content security solutions stops spam cold by blocking incoming e-mails based on criteria such as sender, recipient or body and subject text. Along with its proactive virus and content blocking features, eSafe, which recently received PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award, employs an effective array of spam-fighting techniques that identify and eliminate undesirable emails at the gateway (firewall) level.

Further bolstering network defenses against spam, eSafe’s spoofing protection ensures outsiders cannot masquerade as someone from within your organization and use your e-mail servers to relay unauthorized content or mail.

Aladdin’s eSafe Gateway v3.5, scheduled for release this month, will introduce two of the latest techniques: DNS lookup and Black List Blocking. DNS lookup confirms the sending server has a valid host name — which will eliminate spam sent by dial-up mail servers where host names are not registered in any domain name server (DNS). Black List Blocking checks to see if the IP address of the connecting mail server is listed in one of the servers that maintain real-time lists of spamming servers. eSafe checks the best known of these servers by default and administrators can add new ones to perform additional checks if so desired.

While these techniques are highly effective, they can’t eliminate spam completely without blocking legitimate e-mail. However, a combination of techniques will stop the vast majority of spam trying to invade your network. Check with your Compuquip sales representative for more information.

 

Protect Your Network from E-mail Bugs

Despite the convenience and widespread appeal of Web-based communications, this modern marvel exposes you and your organizations to a range of bugs and other potential hazards. Following are some tips to help you avoid these pesky problems.

1. Strengthen Your Internet Browser and Control the Information You Receive. If you use IE 5.5 or later, go to Tools*Internet Options and click Security. Then select the Internet icon, click Default Level, and set the slider bar to Medium. To adjust Netscape's individual security settings, Netscape 4.x users need to select Edit*Preferences*Advanced. Netscape 6.x users can choose Edit*Preferences and then click the Security & Privacy tab.
2. Never Open a File Attachment From Someone You Don’t Know. Plenty of clues will tip you off to suspect e-mails, including offers for free anti-virus tools, forwarded messages and even messages from a co-worker containing a subject line that seems unlike the person's usual style, especially if it includes an unexpected attachment. 
3. Never Open E-mails Containing 'Microsoft Update' Attachments. Microsoft never sends updates via e-mail. In several cases viruses have been found in scam e-mails purporting to be Microsoft updates.
4. Avoid Beta Software. While you may think beta software, available via download, offers a low entry cost, the initial savings you reap may result in significant financial losses. Test-stage software is often riddled with bugs that can threaten your PC and damage files on which other programs rely. You could end up losing the entire contents of your hard drive.
5. Back Up, Back Up, and Back Up! Back up all of your essential data on regular basis – daily or weekly – depending on your business.
6. Run Virus Scanning Software and a Business Firewall. All segments of your system should have current virus-detection software running. This includes application servers, workstations and e-mail servers. The virus signatures should be automatically updated daily via the Web. In addition, Internet links require a business-strength firewall.
   

 

Community Bank of Florida, a full-service financial institution with 28 branch offices located throughout the state, has relied on Compuquip’s products and services for more than 15 years. Having designed the bank’s network infrastructure and created virtual offices that enabled the bank to go live with the flip of a switch, Compuquip continues to help the bank overcome its IT challenges and support its business objectives.

“Compuquip has delivered on its promises and remains our technology vendor of choice for all of our PC and server needs,” said James Hagood, chief information officer with Community Bank of Florida. “The company brings a unique skill set that supports our IT goals and enables our internal staff to focus on its core projects.”

When a server at the bank’s Ocala office recently failed, Compuquip’s engineering team instantly stripped a server from its Miami office, reformatted it and loaded it with appropriate software and shipped it overnight to Ocala. The following day, the server was installed and running within hours.

“With Compuquip’s quick turn-around and attention to detail on mission-critical tasks, we’re able to maintain our high-standards of service and manage technology challenges without any significant disruption of our day-to-day operation,” Hagood said.