MESSAGE FILTERING METHODS AND SYSTEMS
Methods and systems can filter messages, such as electronic mail (email) messages. According to one example, a method reads sender information for an electronic mail message, wherein the sender information comprises a domain name and a first IP address. The method determines a second IP address associated with a web page associated with the domain name. The method compares the first IP address to the second IP address and provides an indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the comparison of the first IP address to the second IP address.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A method comprising:
reading sender information for an electronic mail message, wherein the sender information comprises a domain name and a first IP address;
determining a second IP address associated with a web page associated with the domain name;
comparing the first IP address to the second IP address; and
providing an indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
rejecting the electronic mail message based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
4 . A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
determining geographic location information based on the web page, wherein providing the indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam comprises providing the indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the geographic location information.
5 . A method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
determining the geographic location information based on the web page if the first IP address is different from the second IP address.
6 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein at least part of the method is performed by an end-user computer.
7 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein at least part of the method is performed by a mail server.
8 . A computer comprising:
a network connection; and
a processing unit coupled to the network connection and configured to:
read sender information for an electronic mail message, wherein the sender information comprises a domain name and a first IP address;
determine a second IP address associated with a web page associated with the domain name;
compare the first IP address to the second IP address; and
provide an indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
9 . A computer according to claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to reject the electronic mail message based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
10 . A computer according to claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:
determine geographic location information based on the web page; and
provide the indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the geographic location information.
11 . A computer according to claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine the geographic location information based on the web page if the first IP address is different from the second IP address.
12 . A computer readable medium on which are embedded instructions for execution by a computing device, the instructions comprising:
instructions to read sender information for an electronic mail message, wherein the sender information comprises a domain name and a first IP address;
instructions to determine a second IP address associated with a web page associated with the domain name;
instructions to compare the first IP address to the second IP address; and
instructions to provide an indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
13 . A computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to reject the electronic mail message based on the comparing the first IP address to the second IP address.
14 . A computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions to determine geographic location information based on the web page; and
instructions to provide the indication of likelihood that the electronic mail message constitutes spam based on the geographic location information.
15 . A computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to determine the geographic location information based on the web page if the first IP address is different from the second IP address.