Automatic Black Hole

Lyris MailShield 2.0 features a direct connection to the Mail Abuse Prevention System (MAPS) Realtime Blackhole List+ Master Service.

by Wayne Kawamoto
[November 29, 2000]

Lyris announced the release of Lyris MailShield 2.0, a server-based e-mail filter that coexists with a mail server to monitor incoming and outgoing messages.

According to the company, MailShield administrators can utilize more than 50 different customizable filters to block or re-route email with specific text in the message header, subject line, or body.

MailShield is designed to prevent abusive relay attempts, perform source validations, and stop mail with attachments that may contain dangerous viruses.

The company says that it can be used to protect networks from spam [definition], and can result in faster delivery of legitimate e-mail and enhance network performance.

Lyris claims that MailShield 2.0 offers several new benefits, including a user-friendly Web interface and mail-merge support for inserting web-based content into e-mail. In addition, version 2.0 supports the Mail Abuse Prevention System's RBL+ Master Service, which should enable subscribers to synchronize their anti-spam efforts with the latest data from three of MAPS' services: Realtime Blackhole List (RBL), Relay Spam Stopper List (RSS), and Dial-up User List (DUL).

"The RBL+ Master Service combines our lists of the IP addresses of spam-originating sites, unsecured mail relays, and dial-up ports, allowing an ISP or any business that runs a compatible email server to decide whether or not to accept mail from those IP addresses," said J.D. Falk, Product Manager of MAPS. "By incorporating RBL+ access into MailShield, we feel that Lyris has provided their customers with a powerful, state-of-the-art tool in the fight against spam."

"In addition to the fundamental benefits of filtering e-mail and protecting against relay attacks, Lyris MailShield gives ISPs access to the most up-to-date anti-spam resource available: MAPS' RBL+ Master Service," said John Buckman, Lyris CEO and founder. "We also find that ISPs that use MailShield gain a significant marketing advantage, because they differentiate themselves from competitors and can resolve customers' concerns about unsolicited mail."

Pricing and availability
MailShield is available for purchase from Lyris for $4,995 per license.

—End

 

Related articles:
	[Aug. 15, 2000]	Talking About Spam and MAPS
	[Aug. 11, 2000]	Spam v. Profit
	[Apr. 4, 2000]	Can We Win a War on Spam?