AT&T PATENTS ANTI-ANTISPAM TECHNOLOGY Critics ponder why AT&T would patent a technology that thwarts antispam filters. The technology operates as a "system and method for counteracting message filtering," according to its patent awarded on Nov 4. "Why is AT&T inventing and patenting a method for e-mail spammers to fight spam-filtering systems?" questions Greg Aharonian, publisher of the Internet Patent News Service. "Some legitimate e-mail is being blocked by spam filters, but the solution is not new techniques to make spam more spammable, but rather coordination among ISPs and backbones to quickly shut down spammers." The technology is described as being able to trick filters that compare digital messages to known pieces of spam by altering each message so that no two are identical, therefore making duplicate detection schemes unproductive. AT&T commented that the patent was purely a defense mechanism. "This is an arms race, and (Bell Labs researcher Robert Hall) tried to stay one step ahead of the spammers," said Michael Dickman, a spokesman for AT&T Labs. "He anticipated that spammers would try to change the message to circumvent the filters." AT&T says it is re-evaluating the patent and has not decided how it will use the technology. SOURCE: News.com; AUTHOR: Paul Festa, CNET http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5108918.html
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