Over 70% of Fortune 100 Companies Authenticating Email Messages through Email Service Providers

Compliance with Email Service Provider Coalition Mandate Drives Wide Adoption by Major Brands

YORK, ME—November 9, 2005—Today, the Email Service Provider Coalition (ESPC) announced the results of an industry survey that demonstrates strong adoption of email authentication protocols by the world's largest corporate brands. The survey revealed that over 70% of the Fortune 100 companies use one of the available authentication protocols on outbound marketing email to help protect their brand and customers against phishing exploits and take a crucial step in the war against spam.

"These results are testament that authentication is a key component in the fight against spam," said J. Trevor Hughes, executive director of the ESPC. "When the largest brands see the risks associated with phishing and embrace authentication technologies, it validates our continuing belief that spam can be controlled through a combination of efforts that include authentication, accreditation and reputation."

In August 2004, the ESPC mandated that all its member companies implement one or more of the available authentication protocols for their corporate and affiliate email. Since ESPC members represent a large majority of the ESP market, a dramatic increase in authentication by the Fortune 100 resulted.

"Microsoft is pleased to see ESPC members taking a decisive action to help protect the integrity of email and online commerce and protecting users worldwide from online threats like spam and phishing," said Craig Spiezle, Director, Microsoft Technology Care and Safety Group. "We encourage all business and financial institutions to adopt Sender ID today and plan for DKIM to protect their online brands and their customers."

Survey results also revealed that Fortune 100 companies had a 57% increase in the authentication of corporate email domains and a 27% increase in the number of .com and .net domains supporting Sender ID since July 2005. Of the Fortune 100 companies that are not publishing SPF records for their corporate domain, over 80% have spoofed or look-alike domains with records, indicating a significant threat to their customers and corporate brand.

Complete results of this research and an update on the Sender ID Framework and other leading email authentication solutions will be presented at the Anti-Phishing Working Group on November 9th, 2005 during a presentation by Spiezle. To download a PDF of the presentation, visit http://www.emailauthentication.org/docs/Sender_ID_update_11-9-05.pdf

For more information about email authentication, please visit http://www.emailauthentication.org

About the Email Service Provider Coalition:
Formed in November 2002 to fight spam while protecting the delivery of legitimate email, the ESPC boasts a membership comprising many of the brightest and most innovative minds in the email industry, including Email Service Providers, Mail Transfer Agents, Internet Service Providers, application and solution developers, and deliverability solutions providers. The ESPC is composed of 80 members including CheetahMail, an Experian Company; Constant Contact; Digital Impact; DoubleClick; ProspectivDirect; Return Path Inc.; SKYLIST and StrongMail Systems, Inc.