Author Topic: Spam filtering (Read 26,460 times)

rjbull · « **on:** January 28, 2008, 10:06 PM »

What are people using to stop spam? I'm currently using Mailwasher, but not all that happy with it; insufficiently keyboard-friendly, downloads the entire contents of my mailbox every time - I leave quite a lot on the server - and now seems to have decided to delete mail it thinks is old, even though I haven't told it to. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but I can't immediately see ways of changing these settings. I do like the idea, though, of deleting spam from the server, and never having it in the e-mail client.

Any other suggestions, please?

Thanks in anticipation...

Josh · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2008, 10:09 PM »

I've suggested it in other threads, Spamato. It combines multiple filtering engines with a highly customizable user interface configured via a web browser at http://localhost:8574

justice · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2008, 10:11 PM »

k9 was my choice before i moved to gmail. Bayesian filtering, low on resources, intercepts mail before you download it and learns from your classification. But its a different way of working from mailwasher.

iphigenie · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2008, 11:33 PM »

On the free/open source side I used popfile and was always impressed by its abilty to not only spot spam, but also learn the difference between private, work and commercial emails for prefiltering. I also had trouble at some point getting it to work on a new machine.

So I switched to the "paid" side I used the blue squirrel "spam sleuth" tool for a while, and that combined a lot of different approaches (multiple filters, bayesian, challenge response etc.) in a nice package, but it was a bit high maintenance to manage. (another one i almost bought was spameater, again quite a good mix of methods)

Now I am on imap so I just use what comes with the service

justice · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2008, 11:45 PM »

Yep if you use mail that comes with your webhost you should ask around, for example my webhost offers spamassassin and some other anti spam features, which I use to filter out the most obvious spam on some accounts.

Darwin · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2008, 11:56 PM »

I've been using the SpamBayes (Open Source) for years - it's almost 100% accurate and NEVER mis-labels Ham as Spam

NB it works with a range of e-mail clients, though originally only with Outlook. The webpage still reflects this, but dig deeper and you'll find that it works with others as well.

Target · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2008, 12:17 AM »

I used to use K9, but switched to Magic Mail Monitor some time ago

it's small, it's free, and no install

works at the server level, ie it reads and deletes messages before you download (a musthave for those of us on dialup)

no self learning, but the user defined rules can use regex's

target

KenR · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2008, 12:19 AM »

Most recently, I have been using Antispam Sniper (http://www.antispamsniper.com/). It uses multiple techniques like the others mentioned and was nearly 100% accurate after some training. It was developed for the Bat, but they have recently developed versions for other email programs, such as Outlook.

Ken

rjbull · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2008, 09:47 AM »

Thanks, eveyone! Some suggestions there I didn't know about.

Now all I have to do is configure them...

iphigenie · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2008, 10:29 AM »

Popfile needs about 10 minutes set up and then training, which can be time consuming

I must say that blue squirrel "spam sleuth" worked pretty well out of the box although it worked better with more features tweaked, the config took a bit of time when adding sites and word filters. I works in layers, first using a combination of whitelists, blacklists, your address book, word filter rules (a lot of them come with it), character & structure rules, plus a bayesian training option (train on existing pots of email after about a week). What it does is use some of the cheap options to do a basic filtering, then anything in the "not sure" middle it can apply further tests, or do challenge response. It can also automatically complain for spam, but i turned that off.

rjbull · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:39 PM »

Quote from: KenR on January 29, 2008, 12:19 AM

Most recently, I have been using Antispam Sniper (http://www.antispamsniper.com/).

KenR,

I use TheBat! too, but on Win98. I don't think AntiSpamSniper works on Win9x? At least they don't mention it on the site, only WinNT onwards.

Are you using the free version or the payware one?

KenR · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2008, 10:47 PM »

Quote from: rjbull on January 29, 2008, 04:39 PM

Quote from: KenR on January 29, 2008, 12:19 AM
Most recently, I have been using Antispam Sniper (http://www.antispamsniper.com/).

KenR,

I use TheBat! too, but on Win98. I don't think AntiSpamSniper works on Win9x? At least they don't mention it on the site, only WinNT onwards.

Are you using the free version or the payware one?

My apologies for not seeing your message message sooner. I use the pay version and really like it. The free version might be as good, but I got the shareware one.

Ken

f0dder · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2008, 01:04 AM »

I use AntiSpamSniper too, the free version - works well enough for me.

Win9x? Ugh, I pity you

Darwin · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2008, 04:08 AM »

Crap! Spambayes spontaneously combusted on my XP installation (Sp-3 with Outlook 2007 Sp-1). I've updated Windows, Office, rebooted, uninstalled Spambayes, rebooted, downloaded the latest version, installed, rebooted, yadda, yadda, yadda...

I'm going to have to find something to replace it. What're people using and loving these days?

Deozaan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2008, 04:35 AM »

Quote from: Darwin on October 24, 2008, 04:08 AM

What're people using and loving these days?

Gmail. After about two years now with a Gmail address I get only perhaps 5-10 spam messages a year. Most of them are from Xara, who just won't unsubscribe me even after multiple attempts.

Josh · « **Reply #15 on:** October 24, 2008, 06:02 AM »

RJBull, I Highly recommend Spamato. It is a very decent spam filtration system which utilizes 6 different filtering styles from bayes to white listing. I used it a few months back in thunderbird but since moving to fusemail and hosting my own domain WITHOUT A CATCHALL, I have stopped receiving spam

But yes, spamato is a great way to go and it can run as a "proxy" of sorts for any email client you use. Give it a shot.

Deozaan · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2008, 06:05 AM »

Josh: Be sure to check the date of the original post.

Josh · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2008, 06:36 AM »

Oh eat me!

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2008, 09:06 AM »

I second Google Mail. Fantastic spam filtering - virtually 0 false poitives (I think I have had about 3 since I started using it) and similar level of spam detection.

Best solution I have found fullstop - and it is maintenace free

mahesh2k · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2008, 09:17 AM »

I wonder if Akismet & Defensio can enter into the market of Email SPAM? This will be improvement isnt it? $:-\$

Mark0 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2008, 01:06 PM »

Gmail for me too.
With it, for all practical effects SPAM is a non existent problem for me.

Darwin · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2008, 02:22 PM »

So, er, what do you do? Set up all your pop mail accounts to be filtered through GMail and then set your GMail account as the only incoming e-mail account through Outlook? Then use rules to sort from there?

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #22 on:** October 24, 2008, 02:43 PM »

Yep - or use forwarders to pump email to the gmail account.

Darwin · « **Reply #23 on:** October 24, 2008, 07:18 PM »

Quote from: Carol Haynes on October 24, 2008, 02:43 PM

Yep - or use forwarders to pump email to the gmail account.

That's what I meant by

Quote from: Darwin on October 24, 2008, 02:22 PM

Set up all your pop mail accounts to be filtered through GMail

So far, Outlook 2007's Junk Filter is doing "all right" on my installation. Will definitely look at the GMail solution, though. It's free and it sounds ridiculously hands-off!

Deozaan · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2008, 07:53 PM »

Quote from: Darwin on October 24, 2008, 07:18 PM

So far, Outlook 2007's Junk Filter is doing "all right" on my installation. Will definitely look at the GMail solution, though. It's free and it sounds ridiculously hands-off!

And besides all that, you get access to Gmail's awesome archiving/search features. I can't tell you how many times I suddenly remembered a topic of conversation (either via GTalk IM or e-mail) from several months or even years ago and wanted to find that link or file or whatever. It only takes a few searches at most before I find it.

Also just the way that e-mails are organized into conversations (almost like a forum thread) make following a particular topics so easy. Gmail just rocks!