Mail Server Security is More Important than Ever

August 14, 2007; 04:36 AM
According to SmarterTools Inc., consumers and businesses rely on email more than any other form of communication. Exchanging data like names, phone numbers, addresses, and other personally identifiable information is common. With this in mind, it is more important than ever to remain focused on email and system security. Nonetheless, recent statistics show that many popular mail servers are experiencing severe vulnerability threats and compromised security.

The National Vulnerability Database (NVD), a U.S. government-regulated repository of standards based vulnerability management data, provides alarming information about well-known Windows^TM mail servers including MailEnable, Merak, IMail, and Atmail. With nearly 100 combined security threats since 2004—93% of them of medium and high severity—MailEnable, Merak, IMail and Atmail may pose significant risks to users. In contrast, the NVD reports only five total security vulnerabilities for SmarterMail, finding zero vulnerabilities in 2005, 2006, and 2007. These results are summarized belowⁱ:

Similar to the U.S.-based NVD, the French Security Incident Response Team (FrSIRT) is a leading research organization that delivers real-time vulnerability and threat alerts. Designed to eliminate risks before they occur, FrSIRT continually monitors, reviews, and analyzes potential software vulnerabilities. Since 2005, they have alerted users to over forty combined risks (as shown below) in MailEnable, Merak, IMail, and Atmail. These risks open the doors to hackers, viruses, and other malicious exploits that can wipe out an entire system, possibly exposing confidential user information to the public. SmarterMail, however, is reported to have zero vulnerabilities since FrSIRT’s founding in 2003—a nearly unheard of feat. These statistics are summarized belowⁱⁱ:

At SmarterTools Inc., developing a mail server solution that protects customers is a top priority. A cutting-edge email and collaboration server, SmarterMail offers numerous security and attack prevention features right out-of-the-box. Built-in antivirus and antispam measures like ClamAV, SpamAssassin, and Greylisting ensure that SmarterMail customers receive the most up-to-date and effective protections at no additional cost. Built on the .NET Framework for added stability, SmarterMail also includes Intrusion Detection System (IDS) features that help prevent dictionary, spoofing, spamming, and denial of service attacks. These added features are normally not included in other mail servers. “SmarterMail is an invaluable asset to ISPs and other hosting environments. Now serving over 15 million users, SmarterMail brings security and performance together, delivering high profile enhancements that don’t compromise safety,” said SmarterTools CEO Tim Uzzanti.

About SmarterTools Inc.

Founded in 2003, SmarterTools Inc. is an information technology-management software company based in Phoenix, Arizona. SmarterTools builds applications that simplify and automate the day-to-day IT operations of businesses and hosting environments in more than 100 countries. Additional information about SmarterTools Inc. and the SmarterTools product line is available at the company Web site: www.smartertools.com.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation: www.microsoft.com.

ⁱ Figures retrieved from National Vulnerability Database, http://nvd.nist.gov/, 8-2-2007.

ⁱⁱ Figures retrieved from French Security Incident Response Team, http://www.frsirt.com, 8-6-2007.