Spam software

[DarrenC]

Well Outlook is very poor at blocking spam, even with the filter turned on high. I want to buy some software that will block the cr*p I am receiving to my email addresses.

I'm looking for something that will either sit on the server or on the desktop.

Suggestions welcome

Darren :)

[Rob Holmes]

We run a modified exim on all servers that blocks according to various DNS black lists.

Zonelabs security suite also has a grey listing facility that might be good for some (I would never use it as we receive support emails)

Rob

[DarrenC]

Thanks Rob.

I've just found that one of the hosts I use has spam assassin on it's server - what are your thoughts with this software?

Darren

[TWD-Tony]

We use spam assassin on all our servers, it is a pain to setup properly and can give a high number of "false positives" if you are not careful :(

But - having said that, when working properly it is very good at blocking spam. :wink:

[seabro]

Cloudmark from cloudmark.com works well.

it isn't free but it isn't expensive.

All the best,

[confused]

Darren is this for your single machine? or do you have an exchange server?

There are many filters available, I have tried a few and if its just for the odd machine, I'd really just setup message rules and blocked senders, a bit of a pain initially but really does workwell once setup. A third party program I have often heard talked about is polesoft antispam. If you are running an exchange server, take a look at Exchange Intelligent Message Filter from microsoft, its a plugin but only works for exchange 2003, I havnt tried it yet but aparantly its very good.

[WelshPixels]

By day I work for a very large internet based motor insurance company and we have spent some major sums on blocking spam, but by far the most effective method we found was removing all the email addresses from our sites.

We now use contact forms fed through to a Lotus Domino system which filters out 99.99% of spam. However some mug (i.e. me) has to go through 10,000 spam messages a day just in case a customer has emailed us directly using an old email address.

It makes a lot more sense than it sounds.

You can still give email addresses on your business cards or directly to people you know. In the mean time the spammers cant find your email addresses.

[DarrenC]

Welsh, I don't think I have an email address shown on the website (but I will check thanks!)

Confused, I run the businesses on a single laptop, so no Outlook exchange server. I've set up some filters, but I'm spending too much time on it, and want to look for a solution.

Sean, thanks I'll check that out.

Tony, I'll see how complicated it is before attempting it - I think its installed via cpanel so I'm assuming this will install everything?

Thanks folks..

Darren

[mattk]

I use SpamPal (http://www.spampal.org/) on my PC. It doesn't stop the emails being downloaded to your PC, but it very effectively filters them into a spam mail folder. It takes a while to "train" it up to stop false-positives but once it's up and running it's very good.

And it's free.

[confused]

Whuilst a lot of 3rd party addons do have a failry good "built in list" they still require training. I personally prefer to have the choice not to download certain messages. I havnt tried spampal but may well look at it if its free since some of my customers are home users it may be of benifit.

[Rob Holmes]

Thanks Rob.

I've just found that one of the hosts I use has spam assassin on it's server - what are your thoughts with this software?

Darren

Hi Darren,

You should NEVER use spamassassin to block spam.

It is far too unreliable - like Tony mentioned it gives too many false positives.

Heres a good process..

1. Server level (MTA level - see your hosting company) Block Known spammers using a number of credible spam blacklists
2. Domain level - Filter out any words you do not want in an email
3. Use spam Assassin to assess the rest of the mail and mark potential spam but NOT to delete it.

Rob

[coxadmin]

I use Mailwasher Pro and there is a free version - the free version only works with one email account whereas the Pro version is for multiple accounts. Like many of these things it learns as you process the mail.

I can't recommend it highly enough.

The free version is available from http://www.mailwasher.net/ and there's a link on that page to the Pro version.

[Rob Holmes]

I have clients that use mailwasher and highly recommend it.

My solutions (server side) combined with a pc based solution should be a good combination!

Rob

[DarrenC]

Thanks everyone, sorry I didn't post earlier... I have been testing out cloudmark and can say I am very impressed with the results.

www.cloudmark.com - it automatically picked up alot of the spam automatically, but some initially leaked through - after a few days training it though it is now filtering nicely, and all of the spam is going where it should.

Well worth the money! Recommended!

[www.t6c.co.uk]

spambully is by far the best......

[Asteeleleith]

inboxcop is also quite good i think

Al