Probe Email Accounts Simulating Active Responses for Spam Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spam filtering methods are limited by the availability of spam messages for processing, as spammers often target active email addresses, leading to increased spam volume and ineffective filtering rules.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to simulate end user responses to spam email messages by using fictitious probe email addresses with seeding components like web beacons or unsubscribe links, which attract more spam messages to an anti-spam facility for processing, utilizing a response simulator to activate these components and deceive spammers into sending more messages to decoy accounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spammers target active email addresses, then spam delivery effectiveness is improved, but the quantity of available spam messages for filter development is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates fictitious probe email accounts that copy the behavior patterns of real active email accounts. These probe accounts receive spam messages just like real accounts would, allowing the system to collect spam messages without compromising actual user privacy or requiring real users to interact with spam. The probe accounts are designed to appear as legitimate active accounts to spammers, ensuring they send messages to the probes just as they would to real users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces probe email accounts as an intermediary between spammers and the anti-spam filter development system. Instead of directly collecting spam from real users (which would require user participation and compromise privacy), the probe accounts serve as a mediator that automatically receives spam messages and forwards them to the processing system. This intermediary mechanism solves the problem of obtaining sufficient spam samples without requiring real user involvement.
2Reliability
If more spam messages are collected for filter development, then filtering rule effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe email accounts automatically perform the function of receiving and forwarding spam messages without requiring manual intervention. The system sets up probe accounts that self-manage the collection process by automatically receiving spam in their inboxes and then forwarding these messages to the processing system. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall system architecture compared to manual spam collection methods, while still achieving the goal of gathering sufficient spam samples for effective filter development.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for simulating end user responses to spam email messages are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a probe email message indicative of spam and identifying a seeding component in the probe email message. The method further includes activating the seeding component utilizing a selected email address. The selected email address may then appear to the originator of the probe email message as an active email account.