Microsoft does anti-spam deal for MSN and Hotmail

Microsoft is expected to announce today a partnership with IronPort, adopting its anti-spam protections for MSN and Hotmail email.

Under the agreement Microsoft will use Ironport's 'bonded sender' email certification programme, according to Ironport representatives. That means that Microsoft will defer to Ironport's list of qualifying senders before allowing their email through its gates.

Ironport operates a certification programme, or what some call a whitelist, that requires bulk emailers to pony up a financial bond before qualifying to send messages to its customers. If emailers breach good practices, a debt will be taken from their bond.

The deal feeds into Microsoft's corporate mandate to squelch spam. Adopting the certification service will be among several approaches the software giant is taking for its MSN internet service and free web-based email service Hotmail.

For example, Microsoft is developing an email authentication system, or caller ID for email, that would verify legitimate senders. Microsoft also maintains a long-standing relationship with spam-filtering company Brightmail.

Outside of its bonded sender programme, Ironport sells email server appliances designed to secure mail delivery with virus protection and anti-spam software. The company also owns a blacklist service, Spamcop, which broadcasts Internet Protocol addresses used to send junk mail so that third parties can refer to it to fend off spam.

Stefanie Olsen writes for CNET News.com.