E-mail filter with user specific rules for virus, spam and content filtering and pre-filtering operations

摘要

The email filter's SMTP listener (106) detects e-mails in a data stream (108) and passes them to queue (110). They are then processed in filter/scanner (112) passed to queue (120) and returned to the data stream (122) by SMTP relay (126). The filter/scanner can provide virus, spam and/or content filtering. Its virus signatures and the like used by the filters can be updated (118). The operation of the system is configured according to user options stored in database (102). This allows filtering of each e-mail in accordance with the appropriate user's preferences. The database can be synchronised with an ISP's database to add new users or domains as they are added by the ISP (104). Once on the database users can modify their configuration options using web interface (103) which may involve login authentication and secure sockets layer encryption. The interface and login may be handled by the ISP or the filtering service provider.