M86 E-Mail Security Program Blocks Messages with Malicious URLs

Security vendor M86 has enhanced its e-mail gateway security program. MailMarshal SMTP version 6.7 includes a blended threat module that blocks e-mails containing malicious URL links and uses a cloud-based malware behavior analysis service for rapid identification of new malicious links. The analysis service is actually an "interaction," as the company calls it, with the behavioral malware detection technology from Avinti, acquired by M86 earlier this year.

The new release also includes IP Reputation Service, which blocks incoming spam based on the sending IP address reputation to dramatically decrease bandwidth previously consumed by spam, and SpamBotCensor, which identifies and blocks bot-based spam.

"Blended threats are the most prominent malicious e-mail security threat to organizations today," said William Kilmer, chief marketing officer and former CEO of Avinti. "In fact, according to recent research from M86 Security Labs, blended e-mail threats have spiked to exceed 30 percent of all spam, about one in every three messages.

It's just another recognition that the threat vector is increasingly moving from email to the web. While email security remains important, the payload from viruses and malware is increasingly coming from web sources, making the proxy one of the most important tools in a security arsenal any organization should have.