Microsoft has recruited three new data providers, Cyota, Internet Identity and MarkMonitor, to help with the task of enhancing the protection offered by Microsoft Phishing Filter and Microsoft SmartScreen Technology. These companies regularly gather information on confirmed phishing Web sites, and will be providing this information to Microsoft for their battle against Phishing.
Microsoft Phishing Filter, introduced in July 2005, helps protect customers from phishing scams when they are browsing the Internet, and is available via the Phishing Filter Add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar, which launched in final release yesterday; and the upcoming release of Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Vista, and Windows XP Service Pack 2, both currently in beta 1 testing.
In addition to being used in the way described above, information from these data providers will also be used to detect phishing scams in e-mail sent to MSN Hotmail users.