US 2004/0177120 A1 · Method for filtering e-mail messages

Abstract

A method for filtering e-mail messages based on an identification of a true sender and assessing the reputation of the true sender among other users of an e-mail network. The true sender of a received e-mail message is identified in one embodiment by combining data in the e-mail message that is nearly impossible to forge with other information in the e-mail message. The reputation, or rating, of the true sender among other users in the e-mail network is then assessed by looking up the true sender in a database which maintains statistics, provided by the users in the network, on true senders. If the rating of a true sender exceeds some threshold set by the recipient, the message is passed on to the recipient. This method may work in combination with other e-mail filtering programs. An analogous method can be employed to detect e-mail messages having a computer virus sent via an attachment. The attachment is identified, for instance by computing a checksum value of the attachment or using the name of the attachment, and the reputation of the attachment, based on statistics sent by other e-mail users in the network, is assessed to determine whether the attachment contains a virus.

Claims94

Dependent claims

A method of processing a received e-mail message comprising:

a) identifying a true sender of the received e-mail message based on at least two data items in the message;
b) assessing a reputation of the true sender within a network of e-mail users;
and
c) filtering the e-mail message based on the reputation of the true sender.

1 more element

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of processing a received e-mail message, the method comprising:

a) identifying a true sender of the received e-mail message based on at least two data items in the e-mail message;
b) assessing a reputation of the true sender within a network of e-mail users;
and
c) filtering the e-mail message based on the reputation of the true sender.

1 more element

A method of processing a received e-mail message comprising:

a) filtering the e-mail message using at least one recipient-created list of recognized senders;
and
b) disposing of the message according to a recipient's preferences if the sender appears on the at least one recipient-created list, otherwise identifying a true sender of the message based on at least two data items in the e-mail message and filtering the message according to a reputation of the true sender within a network of other e-mail users.

A method of processing a received e-mail message comprising:

a) identifying a true sender of the received e-mail message based on at least a digital signature in the message;
b) assessing a reputation of the true sender within a network of e-mail users;
and
c) filtering the e-mail message based on the reputation of the true sender.

1 more element

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of processing a received e-mail message, the method comprising:

a) identifying a true sender of the received e-mail message based on at least a digital signature in the message;
b) assessing a reputation of the true sender within a network of e-mail users;
and
c) filtering the e-mail message based on the reputation of the true sender.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for filtering e-mail messages

Life of this patent

Method for filtering e-mail messages

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims94