IDGNet New Zealand, Press Room, December 10, 2002

Free service to stop the spreading of computer viruses
 

SaferSurf now offers a free virus scan for outgoing e-mails. The real-time data filter SaferSurf scans every sent e-mail for viruses before it is passed on. If it finds a virus, it notifies the sender. After the sender has checked and cleared his system, he can send 'clean' e-mails again.

"Too many users feel secure because they have installed a virus scanner. This is usually updated every once in a while. If a virus is passed on to a partner or a friend, it can ruin a business relationship or a friendship forever", says Rene Holzer, CEO of Nutzwerk and inventor of the real-time virus protection SaferSurf.

After the e-mail has been scanned, a note is added in the subject line that this e-mail is virus free. This way recipients can see straightaway that they can open this message without hesitation. "The new feature was added after many requests of customers that they wanted to show the recipient that they are sending virus free e-mails", says Holzer about the necessity of this protection feature.

SaferSurf users receive the new protection without extra costs in addition to their booked packages. New customers will receive the virus protection for outgoing mail automatically together with their e-mail protection or the complete package.

"The best starting point to stop the spreading of a virus is still the server of the provider. To check incoming e-mails for viruses is already an effective solution. By checking outgoing mails for dangerous code the service now also protects recipients without virus protection if the virus is trying to spread itself via the e-mail program and its mail server", says Florian Fuchs-Steigerwald, provider of a German anti-virus service, about the new SaferSurf feature.

The virus protection for outgoing e-mails is offered for free under:
http://www.safersurf.com/english/partner/security/email_virusfree.html
After a quick registration the user receives his access data for the outgoing mail server (SMTP server), which he simply enters into his e-mail program. The registration and the SMTP verification make sure that the service cannot be used by e-mail spammers.