A study completed by the anti spam organization Spamhaus.org has found that Verizon.net houses more than double the amount of spam issuing bots than any other service provider. Verizon is currently working on plans to reduce the numbers of spammers on their network.

Spamhaus reports that of the nearly 225,500 United States rooted internet addresses, almost a quarter of them are with Verizon.net.

Due to the fact that Verizon continues to permit their customers to utilize Port 25, the communications outlet that is usually used by big associations to send messages, drives spammers find the network desirable.

Port 25 has long become a non-viable option for many other big ISPs. The reason for this was exactly the reason why Verizon is in the position that it is now. Spammers found it easy to construct junk message relays on the port after inflicting a unit with the ability to become an automated spam spewing computer, known as a zombie bot.

As an alternative to Port 25, many ISPs have been routed to Port 587. The main difference between these two ports is the fact that on Port 587, a password and username are required before the user can submit any electronic messages.

A spokesperson for the Verizon network has indicated that they do have plans to shift their clients to Port 587.
The change should be unseen to almost all network users. Email usage by Verizon clients should not be affected by the change. Verizon recognizes that the Port shift is necessary to identify spammers and those using the zombie bots to transmit mass amounts of spam via their network. The change will be facilitated within a few months according to Verizon spokesman Clifford Lee.

Lee also states that the few customers who may be impacted by the change will be notified before the change takes place and will be given instructions and assistance as their service is re-routed to Port 587. This is one of many anti spam solutions Verizon will implement on their network to reduce the total amount of unsolicited commercial email people receive in the United States.