Cape.Com Installs Anti-Virus Software to Protect Users

Update: January 2005

Cape.Com has completed a migration from kaspersky to an open source virus system called clamav (see www.clamav.net). Since clamav is a license free and open source product, Cape.Com will also be deploying clamav on our web servers, thus allowing us to be able to scan a user's web files for viruses, trojans, worms, etc.

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In an effort to protect users from the onslaught of email viruses cropping up daily, Cape.Com has installed Kaspersky Anti-Virus software on all of its incoming and outgoing mail servers. The software was installed in early May 2002 on all gateway mail servers at Cape.Com's main facility in Mashpee, and will be automatically installed on any new mail servers put into service in the future. This service is already running for all customers, and there is no charge to new or existing Cape.Com customers for this value-added protection.

Cape.Com offers its customers a number of powerful tools with their account, free of charge, including SpamNabber, Mail Filter, WebMail, and Email Backup Recovery tools. The addition of this new anti-virus scanning software creates a robust email environment which is unmatched by other ISP's. It is already detecting and rejecting viruses found in emails sent to Cape.Com users from many of the large, popular ISP's and domains.

Implementing the Kaspersky Anti-Virus technology is a significant step in eliminating the spread of viruses to Cape.Com users via email. Email sent by Cape.Com users is also tested for any virus before being forwarded to its final destination. Currently, there are over 54,000 distinct virus patterns that are searched by the scanning software. 40-80 new virus signatures are typically added to the list every day. The Internet is growing up, and running into real world challenges such as email viruses and an explosion in spam and other unsolicited email. Filtering tools such as gateway server virus scanners and spam filters are becoming critical to maintaining the integrity of Internet email systems. It's equally important that these systems are implemented so they do not interfere with the flow of normal, legitimate correspondence.

Cape.Com is a strong proponent of Open System, Standards based, non-proprietary solutions, and utilizes Linux servers as a result. "The Internet is based on these principles and its continued growth and vibrancy depend on it. We use a number of mail servers working together to provide the utmost in redundancy and reliability," said Vernon Grabel, President.

While Cape.Com has installed this centralized anti-virus software on its mail servers, it stresses that since new viruses arise every day, and the task of filtering them is very complex, Cape.Com cannot make any guarantees beyond its strong commitment to protect its customers. Cape.Com plans on updating the software frequently as Kaspersky makes updates available. To further protect against viruses, Cape.Com suggests users install an anti-virus software like Symantec, McAfee, or Trend Micro on their individual workstations.

Users should also note that all incoming mail and mail sent out through smtp.cape.com is scanned. Mail sent out through relay.cape.com is NOT scanned for viruses, meaning if you are sending email to outside destinations using relay.cape.com, that mail will not be scanned for viruses. Cape.Com does not allow anonymous relay of mail through any of it's mail servers.

All email where a virus is detected is automatically rejected, with an virus alert sent to the original sender. Keep in mind that with some viruses (eg, Klez, Sircam, Lentin...), infected emails are silently discarded without an alert back to the sender. The reason being that these viruses spoof their origin so there is no reliable way to determine who actually sent the email.

Cape.Com keeps a record of all emails destined for their users containing a virus that were rejected. You can view these virus-infected emails using WebMail, under the Mail Tools section, with the virus scan list tool. Don't be alarmed -- you won't infect your computer system by viewing this list, as these emails never actually got accepted by our servers, and as a result, cannot be downloaded onto your PC. It will list the suspected virus found in each email. Only those days when mail was rejected will be offered for viewing. If a date is not listed, then no emails were rejected on that day.

To see the anti-virus software in action, look at the email's header. Here, you will see a note saying "X-Virus-Scanned: Cape.Com VirusScan, no known virus found". If a virus is detected, Cape.Com will alert you. Emails containing a virus will not be forwarded anywhere, not even back to the original sender, as a measure of protection.

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