Microsoft announced that three companies will help bolster its Phishing Filter and SmartScreen technologies. Each of the three companies, Cyota, Internet Identity , and MarkMonitor , will regularly provide Microsoft with data that helps identify known phishing sites.
“There is of course no silver bullet that can stop phishing, but we believe that the Microsoft Phishing Filter and SmartScreen Technology, when armed with continuously updated data from both great partners and our own users, can help make a significant difference for our customers worldwide,” said John L. Scarrow, general manager, Anti-Spam and Anti-Phishing Team, Microsoft Technology Care and Safety Group. “We are excited to be working with leading companies like Cyota, Internet Identity and MarkMonitor to better protect our MSN and Windows Live and Windows customers and help them feel more confident in their online safety.”
Phishing Filter was introduced in July 2005 as an add-on for the MSN Search Toolbar , which incidentally was officially released out of beta today. Phishing Filter is currently part of the beta version of Internet Explorer 7, which will become available at a later date for Windows XP Service Pack 2 users and will also be a standard part of Windows Vista when the new operating system launches. Microsoft SmartScreen helps protect MSN, HotMail, and Windows Live Mail users.
