• by Ross Fadner , July 14, 2004

Internet security solutions giant Symantec Corp. continues to put its muscle into the spam-fighting arena in acquiring TurnTide. On Tuesday the Cupertino, Calif.-based company completed a $28 million acquisition of the network security company known for its spam-routing technology. The move follows its $370 million acquisition of anti-spam technology provider Brightmail less than two months ago.

TurnTide's Anti-Spam Router, which was previously known as SpamSquelcher before the technology was bought and refined by the ePrivacy Group, is an unusual spam-fighting technology because it focuses on aberrant message paths rather than individual messages, slowing unusual traffic flows.

According to Stephen Cobb, chief security expert for broadband services provider STSN, "the Anti-Spam Router remains the only device that really reduces spam, as opposed to filtering it." He said that filtering does little to actually deter spam and may even incite spammers to increase the volume of spam messages sent. Cobb says that Symantec has purchased a technology that not only controls inbound traffic, but outbound email traffic as well.

TurnTide uses TCIPC traffic shaping, a technology that Cobb says effectively reduces the network resources allocated to connections that contain spam. He says slowing potential spam traffic is effective because "spam software is so time-sensitive," adding that "spammers will actually drop the connection if a response is not fast enough because the links they provide either go dead or get shutdown." Cobb notes that the technology determines a potential spam connection by analyzing a sample of where the traffic is coming from and what its properties are.

Cobb says that it would make sense for TurnTide's Anti-Spam Router to be deployed in conjunction with Brightmail's anti-spam technology offerings, a move that would effectively conserve bandwidth and server capacity.

Symantec did not issue an official release regarding the acquisition, but the all-cash deal was confirmed by a company spokesperson. The deal has no pending regulatory or shareholder requirements.