Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to resources of a network device is provided. A user instructs a network device to generate a user password that is concealed from the user of the network device. The network device generates the user password based on, at least in part, public input provided by the user, and an algorithm which is concealed from the user, but known to a support service provider. The user communicates the public input to the support service provider. The support service provider uses the public input to generate a provider password based on, at least in part, the algorithm. The support service provider may access the network device via a network by providing the provider password to the network device. If the provider password matches the user password generated, then the support service provider is granted access to resources of the network device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the delivery of electronic messages using bounce profiles is provided. A bounce profile is a set of data that may be used by a mail server in redelivering an electronic message that was not successfully delivered (i.e., bounced) to a recipient of an electronic message. A sender mail server, upon determining that an electronic message sent to a recipient mail server bounced, may select a bounce profile, among a plurality of bounce profiles, that is associated with a trait of the bounced electronic message, such as a domain of the recipient or a message type of the bounced electronic message. The sender mail server determines whether, and how, to redeliver the bounced electronic message to the recipient mail server based on information specified by the selected bounce profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing connections and messages at a server by associating different actions for both different senders and different recipients is disclosed. The server manages connections from different senders by receiving incoming connections from the different senders and determining sender identifiers for the incoming connections. The server inspects a mapping of sender identifiers to actions to identify which action should be applied to each incoming connection. The server applies the actions, such as accepting the connection, rejecting the connection, relaying the connection, or refusing the connection. Also, the server manages electronic messages for different recipients by determining recipient identifiers for the electronic messages. The server inspects a mapping of recipient identifiers to actions to identify which action should be applied for the recipients of the email messages.

Abstract: An approach for monitoring electronic messages received at a server is disclosed. Message information for a plurality of electronic messages received at the server is determined and stored in a queue. Based on the queue, aggregate information is generated for a particular network address of a plurality of network addresses. The aggregate information is generated for each time interval of a plurality of time intervals and displayed for the plurality of time intervals. In some implementations, input from a user is received, and based on the input, a modification is made regarding how future electronic messages from the particular network address are handled by the server. In some implementations, combined aggregate information is generated for two or more network addresses and then displayed. In some implementations, aggregate policy information indicating which policies have been applied to the electronic messages is generated and displayed for the time intervals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing connections, email messages, and directory harvest attacks at a server is disclosed. The server maintains a count of a parameter and compares the count to a specified maximum value, such that when the specified maximum value is met or exceeded, an action is taken by the server to limit the connections, email messages, or directory harvest attack. Actions include controlling the number of connections to the server from senders, controlling the flow of email messages injected to the server by senders, and controlling when rejection response messages are sent for invalid recipient email addresses to thwart a directory harvest attack. Senders are identified by one or more sender identifiers, which can be used to group senders together so that the same maximum value is applied collectively to all senders in the group.