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Microsoft Researching Anti-Spam Technique
Tim C writes "Microsoft's Research group are working on a technique to combat spam. Dubbed the 'Penny Black project', it involves making email senders perform a computation taking around 10 seconds, which their recipients can then check for. This delay would limit bulk emailing speeds to around 8000 a day, meaning that to spam all of those 'fresh, guaranteed 25 million addresses' would take approximately 8.5 years." We've reported on this before.
The technique is on page 426 of Advances in Cryptology -- Crypto 2003 [LLNCS2729].
Not exactly a monopoly here as anyone else can implement it.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Mod parent down [-1,unsightful]
The research this is based on [presented at crypto'03] is designed to level the difference between a P4-3000 and a P2-233. They use problems where cache hits will be lower [e.g. use a 8MB buffer or something] so you end up computing at the speed of your memory bus.
If you had done some research before posting your crap you'd know this.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Calm down, killer. Microsoft's not THAT smart.
It Is Not A Big Secret
At worst, I suppose Microsoft could make it's own scheme and try to push other people out, but I doubt that there are enough Microsoft MTAs out there to make that sort of system survive. If they implemented it for Microsoft-only, they'd almost have to give the option to revert to a traditional white-list when the sender can't play Microsoft's Holy Encryption Puzzle. After all. If you send someone an e-mail and outlook Express won't give it to them, just tell them that - Outlook Express won't let you look at it. I sent it, sorry. The problem is clearly on your end, call support for help.
Microsoft HATES support costs and one thing you don't do on Windows is screw with grandma's emails.
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