Symantec Corporation

Gurujiwan Khalsa

Dylan Morss

A method and system for simulating end user responses to spam email messages are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a probe email message indicative of spam and identifying a seeding component in the probe email message. The method further includes activating the seeding component utilizing a selected email address. The selected email address may then appear to the originator of the probe email message as an active email account.

Method and apparatus for simulating end user responses to spam email messages

A malicious e-mail manager provides protection from malicious e-mail attacks. A malicious e-mail manager examines an e-mail stream, and identifies suspicious e-mail messages therein. The malicious e-mail manager inverts responses to addresses from which identified suspicious e-mail originated. Where the target address of a suspicious e-mail message points to an existing recipient, the malicious e-mail manager returns an error code to the originating address indicating that the recipient does not exist. On the other hand, where the target address of a suspicious e-mail message points to a non-existent recipient, the malicious email manager returns a success code to the originating address, indicating that the e-mail message was delivered. Thus, senders of malicious e-mail believe that existing users are non-existent and vice versa. E-mail from legitimate senders is handled normally.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Gurujiwan Khalsa