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Detica and Cloudmark Partner to Provide ISPs With Network-Layer Security Against Botnets and Outbound Spam
[October 08, 2007]

Detica and Cloudmark Partner to Provide ISPs With Network-Layer Security Against Botnets and Outbound Spam


(Market Wire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) WASHINGTON, DC, October 8 / MARKET WIRE/ --

Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group 11th
General Meeting -- Detica Plc, a business and technology consulting firm
specializing in information intelligence, and Cloudmark Inc, the global
leader in carrier-grade messaging security, today announced a technology
partnership to enable transparent, high-performance outbound messaging
protection for Internet service providers (ISPs). The joint solution
delivers unparalleled outbound spam detection and filtering for all e-mail
traffic on the ISPs' network and helps service providers identify
subscriber PCs that have been compromised by botnets. Both companies are
participating in this week's Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG)
11th General Meeting in Washington, D.C. This is a members-only event
focused on preserving electronic messaging from online exploits and abuse
while enhancing user trust and confidence and ensuring the deliverability
of legitimate messages. Announced at MAAWG, the new Cloudmark and Detica
solution effectively combats the growing problem of outbound abuse, thereby
keeping ISPs' network pipes clean, subscribers happy and their own brand
reputations safe.

Today, of the 600 million computers currently on the Internet, it is
estimated that between 100 and 150 million are already part of botnets,
large groups of computers that have been compromised by professional
spammers and used, without the knowledge of the PC owner, to send high
volumes of spam. The computers that are part of these botnets, called
zombies, account for about 70 percent of all spam traffic sent. The high
volume of spam traffic generated by botnets has created a serious problem
for both receiving and sending ISPs. ISPs that unwittingly transport
abusive messages face blacklisting, which impacts subscriber satisfaction
and their brand reputation.

Previously, ISPs were unable to detect or filter all abusive outbound
traffic because e-mails sent through botnets are usually sent directly to
the Internet without going through the ISPs' mail transfer agents (MTAs).
In the past, the only way to stop outbound spam was by closing "Port 25," a
port used to send e-mail, and requiring sender authentication. This process
is extremely costly for service providers and can create a poor user
experience for subscribers.

Detica's StreamShield Content Security Gateway (CSG) is designed to sit in
front of a service provider's mail stream as a transparent proxy filtering
device through which all e-mail traffic flows, even those messages that are
not currently hitting the MTA. This serves as a first line of defense
against outgoing malware, spyware, adware and spam. To further enhance its
network-level platform, Detica has integrated Cloudmark Authority, the
industry-leading messaging anti-abuse technology. Cloudmark Authority
leverages Advanced Message Fingerprinting(TM) technology based on
innovative, high-performance algorithms and real-time, corroborated
feedback from the Cloudmark Global Threat Network to stop spam, phishing
and viruses with greater than 98 percent accuracy and near zero false
positives.

Together, Detica and Cloudmark are enabling ISPs to transparently
intercept, inspect and filter out all outbound spam on their networks
without the need to close Port 25 or reconfigure existing messaging
environments. In addition, the joint solution allows ISPs to identify and
stop zombie PCs from sending spam. Now, all subscribers are protected from
both inbound and outbound messaging abuse without the need for any change
to their e-mail systems. Those subscribers with compromised PCs who were
once automatically blacklisted by their provider can proactively and
actively be identified and sent for further remediation. ISPs, whose
reputation is often affected by publication of pervasive rankings of
providers with the worst spam infection rates, can better protect their
brand while ensuring the most positive user experience for their
subscribers.

"Cloudmark's technology is already the choice of more than 90 service
providers around the world for stopping spam, viruses and phishing attacks
from entering their networks," said Jamie de Guerre, CTO at Cloudmark.
"Now, our partnership with Detica allows us to help ISPs stop the
increasingly prolific volume of abusive traffic being sent from their
networks through compromised subscriber PCs. Together, Cloudmark and Detica
are introducing a new approach to network-layer security by enabling
service providers to detect all outbound abuse from their networks, as well
as identify infected PCs for remediation, all without going through the
steps of closing Port 25. The joint solution not only helps protect
subscribers and ensures that they have a positive e-mail experience, but
also empowers ISPs to stop being part of the spam problem and become part
of the spam solution."

"We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Cloudmark and
together work towards contributing to the global fight against spam," said
Tom Black, Detica Group Chief Executive Officer. "In deciding on the best
message filtering solution to integrate with the StreamShield Content
Security platform, we explored several technologies and found that none
offered the accuracy, low false positive rate and high performance offered
by Cloudmark Authority. We firmly believe that the unique combination of
the StreamShield Content Security platform and Cloudmark Authority offers
ISPs an innovative solution to stopping outbound spam and defeating botnets
on their networks."

About Detica

Detica is a business and technology consulting firm that specialises in
information intelligence. The company helps its clients transform complex
data into valuable intelligence, enabling better decision making and
sustained performance improvement. Engagements range from strategy
formulation, through people and process change, to the delivery and support
of technology solutions. Detica works with many leading commercial and
government organisations in areas including enterprise information
management and business intelligence; fraud and serious crime prevention;
marketing and customer management; risk management and regulatory
compliance and defence and national security. Detica's commercial clients
include RBS, Barclays, Reuters, UBS, Sony, Microsoft, Sky, BT and Vodafone.
Government clients include Home Office, HM Revenue & Customs, Department
for Transport and Ministry of Defence. It has offices in London,
Guildford, Cheltenham, Geneva, Amsterdam, Chicago, New York, Columbia, MD
and Washington, DC.

Detica and Detica Limited product names are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Detica Limited in the UK and in other countries. Other brand
and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their
respective companies. Detica Limited is registered in England under number
1337451 and has its registered office at Surrey Research Park, Guildford,
England, GU2 7YP.

For further information please visit www.detica.com.

Detica Limited, 2007. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

About StreamShield

StreamShield Networks is a product division of Detica's Electronic Systems
Group. StreamShield is the first platform in the world to provide
integrated, Internet-based protection for e-mail, Web and other real-time
Internet applications. Its products and services can identify and block
threats -- such as viruses, worms, other forms of malware, phishing scams,
spam, and inappropriate content -- in the Internet before the content
reaches any users and harms their computer systems. For further information
please visit www.streamshield.com.

StreamShield, StreamShield Networks, the StreamShield logo and StreamScan
are trademarks or registered trademarks of StreamShield Networks, for use
in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. All other
product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

About Cloudmark

Cloudmark, Inc. is a global leader in carrier-grade messaging security,
delivering the industry's fastest, most comprehensive and most accurate
real-time spam, virus and phishing protection for fixed and mobile
networks. Cloudmark solutions combine highly sophisticated Advanced Message
Fingerprinting(TM) technology based on innovative, high-performance
algorithms and a Global Threat Network consisting of trusted reporters in
163 countries to provide security intelligence and filtering at all points
in the messaging infrastructure. Cloudmark solutions currently protect more
than 250 million mailboxes and more than 90 of the world's largest service
provider and mobile operator networks (including seven of the top 10 in
North America), such as EarthLink, Comcast, Cablevision, Charter
Communications, Cox Communications, NTT Communications, SprintNextel,
Virgin Mobile and Swisscom. Cloudmark is a privately held company
headquartered in San Francisco with offices in London, Tokyo, Beijing and
Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.cloudmark.com.

About MAAWG

The Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG) is a global organization
focusing on preserving electronic messaging from online exploits and abuse
with the goal of enhancing user trust and confidence, while ensuring the
deliverability of legitimate messages. With a broad base of Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators representing over 600
million mailboxes, key technology providers and senders, MAAWG works to
address messaging abuse by focusing on technology, industry collaboration
and public policy initiatives. For more information about MAAWG, please
visit http://www.maawg.org/home.

Media Contacts:
For Detica, please contact:
Sally [email protected]
020 7853 2310
For Cloudmark, please contact:
Marisa [email protected]
(415) 512-0770

Copyright 2007 Market Wire, Incorporated

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