TotalBlock Works By Blocking Email:

There are two ways to handle SPAM (unwanted email). The first is to filter it by using techniques to identify the email as expected SPAM and putting it in a folder for the receiver to review at a later time. The second is to prevent it from ever being received and this is the approach used by TotalBlock.

There are some distinct advantages in using the blocking approach:

• An email receiver doesn't have to worry about the 80-90% of emails that are rubbish; they never go past TotalBlock and don't even get to your server, much less your email client.
• An email receiver doesn't have to update filters as the senders of SPAM update their tricks to get past the filters. TotalBlock keeps working regardless of any improvements made by the SPAM senders.
• There are no quarantine folders to inspect that might or might not contain legitimate email. This is probably the biggest complaint made by users of the filtering approach i.e. "select-all, delete" the contents of the quarantine folder without even checking what's there. The problem with quarantine folders is that all the unwanted email is still received and the receiver should take time to review it.
• Blocking means that there is no need to archive unwanted email. If you allow it on to the server to perform filtering, it is automatically archived.
• Most viruses come with unwanted email because the unwanted email never enters the system. The chances of virus infection is therefore considerably reduced.

TotalBlock requires senders to be authorised to send email. This is a "once-off" action. Once a sender is authorised, the sender is always authorised unless they change their sending details. There are also some methods that can be employed to mitigate any potential problem. One method is that any email sent by the receiver can automatically approve a sender; a second is that a quick inspection of history will reveal senders that have not gone to the authorisation step; they are easy to spot and easy to authorise.

Addition Operational Features:

TotalBlock can manage itself. TotalBlock can learn what the users are sending and receiving and develop its own rules to manage SPAM. No one – administrators or users – needs to do anything to prevent junk email. No rules, no filters, no administration. 

Rejecting email. All email that is specifically not allowed is logged and rejected before the contents of the email are sent to the server. This means that all SPAM email never enters the network and doesn’t consume precious resources. The volume of SPAM is such that with TotalBlock, up to 80% of email data never enters the network. TotalBlock enables you to prevent junk email from even entering your system. 

Incoming email. All incoming email is checked by TotalBlock and if allowed, is received, logged, and passed to the email user. 

Outgoing email. Any email sent by a TotalBlock user can automatically authorise return email. 

Authorizing email. When email from an unknown source is rejected, an SMTP reply is sent to the email source informing them that the sender of the rejected email must be authorised to send email to the user. The email contains instructions as to how this is done. The sender then simply replies to an authorising email address. (This address is dynamic and changes for each blocked email.) If the user does not configure authorisation as automatic, then the TotalBlock user is asked to authorise the sender. If authorised, then the address of the sender is recorded in TotalBlock and the sender is notified that they are now authorised to send email to this address. 

TotalBlock User. All users administer their own settings through a web interface. The interface enables the user to set automatic functions; to view, add, and change their rules and to view their history. Rules administration is generally not required due to the Authorising email and Outgoing email features above. In effect, a user can allow TotalBlock to do all the work and does not need to be aware of SPAM or TotalBlock to prevent junk email!

TotalBlock Administrator. The administrator through a desktop interface manages TotalBlock configuration and any site rules. 

Central Install. TotalBlock is installed on a server and the email users and site administrator all use it from the same central location. TotalBlock maintains a history log for all email activity. Both users and administrators can view the log. 

Filters. The purpose of filters is to specifically allow or reject email and is done by email address (e.g. fredh@mail.com), domain address (e.g. mail.com), TCP/IP address, or any combination of the three. Filtering works on a hierarchical basis (e.g. if email.com is blocked, but fredh@mail.com is allowed, then only fredh in the email.com domain will be allowed). The filters are used to create rules. TotalBlock, the user or the site administrator can administer rules.

Reporting. Standard reports quantify the volume of SPAM, its data cost and user-related SPAM activity. 

Brochure. Download an information brochure on TotalBlock. Simply click on the PDF icon below to download the brochure in PDF format.