EarthLink boosts e-mail phish defenses

EarthLink is strengthening its protections against phishing in its customers' e-mail service. The U.S. ISP said Thursday its ScamBlocker feature helps ferret out the infiltrator programs as they ride into e-mail boxes aboard unsolicited spam.

EarthLink Vice President Kevin Brand said in a news release, "By combining ScamBlocker with spamBlocker and Virus Blocker, EarthLink subscribers have three of the most powerful protection features available to consumers in a single, easy-to-use e-mail application."

ScamBlocker issues users a warning when they receive a fraudulent URL disguised to look like a legitimate e-mail from a reputable business. Users will be able to scan those suspicious e-mails and get a rating of their potential danger before they innocently open them.

Phishing is a growing problem on the Internet and a major concern of customers. EarthLink said recent reports show 70 percent of U.S. Web surfers have serious concerns about being subjected to cyber-fraud.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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