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Providers of antivirus and antispam products that can be used in accounting firms include Computer Associates International (CA), DigiPortal, Erado Message Control Services, GFI Software USA, Network Associates, Symantec, and Trend Micro. The director of technology for a financial firm says users of Blackberries (which provide wireless access to e-mail) often found that 75% of the e-mail messages they received were spam. However, when the firm deployed a combination of Norton and Trend Micro antivirus, GFI Mail Essential, and GFI Mail Security, the spam deluge was substantially reduced. One very good feature of GFI spam blocking is its ability to learn from information in the company outgoing e-mails. For instance, if a company does not do mortgages, the software will block inbound e-mails with the word mortgage. Another key approach is to limit the number of firm e-mail addresses posted on the Web site. Other users also have problems, even if employees do not use Blackberries. According to some estimates, over 90% of e-mail is spam, which also raises the specter of embedded viruses. Later in 2004, Microsoft will release Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, which will provide various security upgrades, many of which are designed for home and small business users. The service pack will have better file attachment for e-mail and instant messaging (IM)programs to prevent viruses from spreading when contained in attachments. A list of measures to be taken to slow the entry of viruses and spam is provided, but a consultant says the Internet is not a secure medium and probably never will be.
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