What is a Spam Relay?

Archived in the category: Network Security

Posted by zyreel on 08 Jul 08 -

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ansi-language:MS;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> A Spam Relay is another type of malicious program that is often very well hidden on the computer and is often installed without the computer user’s knowledge or permission. Spam Relay programs turn infected computer systems into special mail servers that are used to send unsolicited commercial email to huge lists of people. When a computer at UNC-Chapel Hill becomes a Spam Relay it can result in other administrators blocking all mail from all UNC computers. This could prevent your email from reaching other email services. Like Trojan programs, Spam Relays are also often well hidden and difficult to remove, so often the best way to clean them is an upgrade to a fresh operating system at the ITRC.