Electronic mail systems. Standards, architecture, security

Review posted in the NetWorld journal No. 01/2013

The publication is a compendium of knowledge about e-mail. Presents the basic problems of the functioning of e-mail systems. He points out the threats resulting from the lack of security of these systems, the risk of data loss and reputation, and in particular the risk of not being secured against virus infection and the operation of malicious code. It discusses communication protocols for SMTP and MIME mail in detail and two extremely different mail drop protocols: POP3 I IMPA4 ( Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions ). It explains the functions and features of the directory service and how to ensure secure mail and as it is implemented by the S / MIME standard PGP ( Pretty Good Privacy ) by ensuring authorization, integrity and privacy. It presents various methods of combating spam and viruses, ending with discussing the issue of content filtering. The reader is required to know the basics of operating computer networks and operating systems.

Piotr Kociatkiewicz