Why SMARTech?
This brings us back to the email management issue that got us started. In addition to running Postfix, it's reasonable to assume that SMARTech runs Microsoft's Exchange server and other Microsoft technology. As Figure M shows, Averbeck is quoted by Microsoft as endorsing Microsoft's Small Business Server.

FIGURE M


Back in 1999, Averbeck endorsed Microsoft technology. Roll over picture for a larger image.

From this, and because we know SMARTech runs the open source Apache and Microsoft's IIS and Windows Server 2003, we can reasonably guess the RNC email servers use either Postfix or Exchange (or both). But this begs a far bigger question.

Question: Why would the RNC run so much critical information through a tiny 12-person ISP in Chattanooga?

Conspiracy theorists could go to town over this question, but I'd caution restraint. When faced with deciding between a vast global conspiracy or someone's inherent lack of knowledge, lack of knowledge wins almost every time. Face it: wouldn't you rather give a project you don't understand to someone you trust than a huge company you can't influence?

I've had that experience. We've run our Internet services through huge companies and small companies. For years, we used Verizon to provide us with an Internet feed. It was an exercise in constant frustration. For the past few years, we've run our Internet services through a small company (probably about the size of SMARTech) called Prominic.NET. Working with Prominic has been a total joy. Responsiveness, knowledge, and customer service are so vastly better with Prominic than Verizon that it's almost indescribable.

When faced with deciding who to have help implement their Internet needs, I'm sure the head honchos at the RNC weren't familiar with SMTP, POP, SSH, and all the other geekspeak terms we use every day.

This brings us back to Chattanooga's former Mayor and newly minted Republican Senator Bob Corker. As an Associated Press article shows, Corker knew SMARTech's Averbeck. Based on our examination of the coding of the SMARTech Web site, the lack of errors in SMARTech's DNS, MX, and IP setup we found during our investigation, and Microsoft's use of his endorsement for Small Business Server, it's likely Mr. Averbeck knows his stuff.

So, which is more likely? Vast right-wing conspiracy or "I know a guy"? Personally, I'd bet on the "I know a guy" factor every time.

But just because we don't see a conspiracy here doesn't mean we don't see a troublesome national security risk. Next week, we'll continue our detailed analysis, look into the strange TRESPASSERS-W story, and we'll share with you some of our ongoing security concerns.