Unsolicited electronic mail reduction

• US 7,149,778 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Ashvinkumar P., Manber, Udi, Woods, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARQADLE, YASIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/774,439
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/205, 709206-207, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

The present invention involves reducing the amount of unsolicited e-mail. In one embodiment, a method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from a mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail is disclosed. In one step, an electronic mail message is received from the mailer. It is automatically determined if the electronic mail message is probably unsolicited. A check for an open relay in routing information of a header of the electronic mail message is performed. The facilitating party of the mailer is determined. Information relating to the electronic mail message is automatically reported to the facilitating party.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from a mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic mail message from the mailer, wherein the electronic mail message comprises;

a body, and

a header, wherein the header comprises;

routing information meant to indicate routing of the electronic mail message from the mailer, wherein the routing information lists relays that allegedly routed the electronic mail message;

recipient information, wherein the recipient information specifies one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to one or more intended recipients; and

a purported e-mail address of the mailer;

automatically determining the electronic mail message is probably unsolicited using a local open relay list maintained by a local mail system and free from third part information;

checking for an open relay in the routing information;

determining a facilitating party of the mailer; and

automatically reporting information relating to the electronic mail message to the facilitating party.

2. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, wherein the facilitating party comprises at least one of the following;

a first internet service provider (ISP) associated with an origin of the message;

an upstream provider for the first ISP;

a second ISP associated with the reply address;

a third ISP associated with an email address in a body of the electronic mail message;

a host of a web site referenced in the body of the electronic mail message; and

the open relay in the routing information.

3. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, determining the electronic mail message is unsolicited based upon receipt of the electronic mail message.

4. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, further comprising baiting harvest of an electronic mail address corresponding the electronic mail message.

5. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 4, wherein the baiting the harvest comprises at least one of:

embedding the electronic mail address in a web page;

applying for an account with a web site using the electronic mail address;

participating in an online auction with the electronic mail address;

posting to a newsgroup or message board with the electronic mail address; and

posting to a public forum with the electronic mail address.

6. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining the facilitating party comprises determining at a protocol level which Internet protocol (IP) address sent the electronic mail message to the open relay.

7. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining an address of the mailer; and

blocking electronic mail messages from the address for a predetermined period of time.

8. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, wherein the automatically reporting information comprises sending a report comprising information on a plurality of electronic mail messages.

9. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, wherein the automatically reporting information comprises periodically sending a report to the facilitating party.

10. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first portion in the electronic mail message;

calculating a first code corresponding to the first portion;

determining a second portion in the electronic mail message;

calculating a second code corresponding to the second portion; and

storing the first and second codes.

11. A method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from a mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic mail message from the mailer;

determining the electronic mail message is unsolicited by comparing codes, each code associated with a fingerprint;

checking for a source address in routing information of a header of the electronic mail message, wherein;

the header comprises;

the routine information meant to indicate routing of the electronic mail message from the mailer, wherein the routing information lists relays that allegedly routed the electronic mail message;

recipient information, wherein the recipient information specifies one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to one or more intended recipients; and

a purported e-mail address of the mailer; and

the routing information purports to indicate how the electronic mail message is routed from the mailer;

determining a facilitating party of the mailer automatically determining the electronic mail message is probably unsolicited using a local open relay list maintained at a local mail system and free from third part information;

checking for an open relay in the routing information;

associated with the source address; and

automatically reporting information relating to the electronic mail message to the facilitating party, wherein the automatically reporting step includes a step of sending the information by electronic mail messaging.

12. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 11, wherein the determining the electronic message is unsolicited comprises:

determining a first fingerprint indicative of the electronic mail message;

receiving a second electronic mail message;

determining a second fingerprint indicative of the second electronic mail message; and

comparing the first fingerprint to the second fingerprint.

13. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 11, wherein the determining the facilitating party comprises determining at a protocol level which Internet protocol (IP) address sent the electronic mail message to an open relay.

14. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 11, further comprising blocking electronic mail messages from the source address for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 11, wherein the automatically reporting information comprises sending a report comprising information on a plurality of electronic mail messages.

16. The method for automatically detecting unsolicited electronic mail from the mailer and automatically notifying facilitators of the mailer of the unsolicited electronic mail as recited in claim 11, wherein the automatically reporting information comprises periodically sending a report to the facilitating party.

17. A method for automatically processing e-mail messages from a sender, the method comprising:

receiving a first message;

determining a first fingerprint indicative of the first message;

storing the fingerprint;

receiving a second message;

determining a second fingerprint indicative of the second message;

comparing the first fingerprint to the second fingerprint;

determining the sender is an unsolicited mailer based upon the comparing the first fingerprint to the second fingerprint;

analyzing routing information of a header of the second message, wherein the header comprises;

the routing information meant to indicate routing of the electronic mail message from the mailer, wherein the routine information lists relays that allegedly routed the electronic mail message;

recipient information, wherein the recipient information specifies one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to one or more intended recipients; and

a purported e-mail address of the mailer automatically determining the electronic mail message is probably unsolicited using a local open relay list maintained at a local mail system and free from third part information;

checking for an open relay in the routing information;

determining a facilitating party from the routing information of the second message; and

automatically notifying the facilitating party.

18. The method for automatically processing e-mail messages from a mailer as recited in claim 17, further comprising embedding an e-mail address in the Internet that has no legitimate purpose and is harvested by the unsolicited mailer.

19. The method for automatically processing e-mail messages from a mailer as recited in claim 17, wherein the determining the facilitating party comprises determining at a protocol level which Internet protocol (IP) address sent the second message to an open relay.

20. The method for automatically processing e-mail messages from a mailer as recited in claim 17, wherein the automatically notifying the facilitating party comprises sending a report comprising information on a plurality of e-mail messages.