ZyXEL Communications 70 Series User Manual

Page of 807
ZyWALL 5/35/70 Series User’s Guide
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Chapter 15 Anti-Spam
15.1.1.1  SpamBulk Engine
The e-mail fingerprint ID that the ZyWALL generates and sends to the anti-spam external 
database only includes the parts of the e-mail that are the most difficult for spammers (senders 
of spam) to change or fake. The anti-spam external database maintains a database of e-mail 
fingerprint IDs. The anti-spam external database SpamBulk engine then queries the database 
in analyzing later e-mails.
The SpamBulk Engine also uses Bayesian statistical analysis to detect whether an e-mail is 
fundamentally the same as a known spam message in spite of a spammer’s attempt to disguise 
it. 
15.1.1.2  SpamRepute Engine
The SpamRepute engine calculates the reputation of the sender (whether or not most people 
want to receive the e-mail from this sender).
The SpamRepute engine checks proprietary and third-party databases of known spammer 
email addresses, domains and IP addresses. The SpamRepute engine also uses Bayesian 
statistical analysis to detect whether an e-mail is sent from a known in spite of a spammer’s 
attempt to disguise the sender’s identity. The anti-spam external database combines all of this 
data into a SpamRepute Index for calculating the reputation of the sender in order to guard 
against foreign language spam, fraud and phishing.
15.1.1.3  SpamContent Engine
The SpamContent engine examines the e-mail’s content to decide if it would generally be 
considered offensive. The vocabulary design, format and layout are considered as part of 
thousands of checks on message attributes that include the following. 
• To  Field 
• Subject Field 
• Header Fields 
• Email Format, Design, and Layout 
• Vocabulary, Word Formatting and Word Patterns 
• Foreign Language Detection 
• SMTP Envelope Content and Analysis 
• Country Trace 
• Image Layout Classification 
• Hyperlink Analysis and Comparison 
• Contact Verification
The SpamContent engine parses words into pieces to detect similar vocabulary even if the 
words do not match exactly. The anti-spam external database also performs Bayesian 
statistical analysis on the e-mail’s content. The engine uses artificial intelligence technology to 
'learn' over time, as spam changes.