McAfee scoops anti-spam patent

Security software company McAfee said this week that it has been granted a patent for methods of filtering spam, or unsolicited email.

The US Patent Office approved the patent, a sweeping grant for the company's methods and systems used within its anti-spam products.

The patent covers a combination of techniques to fight spam, including what's known as compound filters, paragraph hashing and Bayesian rules, according to the company.

Jeff Green, vice president of engineering at Network Associates, said in a statement: "Our patented technology provides our customers with reliable anti-spam solutions as they have come to expect from the industry-leading McAfee brand."

Staff, News.com