Avast WEBforum
Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Lisandro on March 20, 2004, 02:48:33 AM
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Cojo and bbfi asked me some help to configure Spamihilator and avast! for optimal performance. I will start this thread with some suggestions and as soon other experiences were added and tested, correct the first posts.
If anybody wants to configure Spamihilator and avast! to be used in the same computer, please, see this related forum (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1622). Some links for spam applications are posted here (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=1509;start=0) at section SPAM Tools.
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To correct set Spamihilator to be used with avast! scanning the e-mail messages, first you have to solve the socket error when Spamihilator opens, since both programs (Spamihilator and avast!) want to use the POP3 port 110.
Please read the Spamihilator FAQ (http://www.spamihilator.com/index2.php?lang=en&page=faq.php&anchor=faq3).
Please make sure that you change your POP3 port both in your e-mail client (for example, in Outlook Express, in each account, see Tools> Accounts > Properties > Advanand) and Spamihilator to 120, for example.
After that you have to change the username in your e-mail-client to something like that:
Incoming mail: localhost
Account name: localhost&yourUsername#yourPOP3Server&110
or
Incoming mail: 127.0.0.1
Account name: 127.0.0.1&yourUsername#yourPOP3Server&110
And you have to change avast4.ini file like the following:
Open the Avast4\Data\Avast4.ini file and go to [Mail scanner] section. If you change any items while the mail scanner is running, the new values will be loaded and used immediately after you save the avast4.ini file.
Mail scanner works as a simple SMTP/POP3/IMAP proxy server. It means that your mail program must be configured so that it sends requests to the Mail scanner, and the Mail scanner forwards them to the appro-priate SMTP (POP3, IMAP) server.
The Mail scanner uses ports 25, 110 and 143 of your computer. If you want to use Spamihilator (which uses these ports as well), it is necessary to properly set the items DefaultSmtpServer, DefaultPopServer and DefaultImapServer. For example, if you want to configure your system so that the Mail scanner "sits be-tween" your mail program and a SMTP/POP3 server running on the same computer, configure items *Listen as above and add:
DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110
SmtpListen=127.0.0.1:25
PopListen=127.0.0.1:110
ImapListen=127.0.0.1:143
If you want the Mail scanner to scan mails for other computers too, it is necessary to allow connection acceptance also from other addresses than local. You achieve this by changing the items *Listen and setting the item Trust.
Example:
192.168.1.10 is the address of one of the network cards on the server through which the computers with addresses 192.168.1.20 and 192.168.1.21 are connected
PopListen=192.168.1.10:111
Trust=192.168.1.20,192.168.1.21
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In a commercial email account, which the senders are not known by the user, you must choose another strategy to get rid from spam. Here, I will only tell my experience using Spamihilator and a personal email account which, in principle, you know the senders which are mailing you.
General Settings:
Set the frequency (in days) that you want to see and work with the Recycle Bin and work with the emails: Don't keep messages more than
Check: Keep Spam Mails on the server until I delete them from the Recycle Bin
Connection:
The port number must be the same as in each email account. The antivirus could be set to work with the default port (110), different from the one set here.
Filter Properties:
Please, check:
Enable Spam Word Filter
Ignore HTML tags
Enable Learning Filter
Automatically learn from messages from my friends
Automatically learn from restored messages from the Recycle Bin
Enable Plugin Filters
The option Automatically learn from messages from blocked senders will be disabled by the other setting (Don't download messages from blocked senders, see further).
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Filter Properties:
This is the core of the strategy!
The first one is the only I recommend that When the filter finds a Non-SPAM Mail... it continues with the next filter. The other filters could behave by default, i.e., finish filtering process (recommended).
The filter order suggested - until further revision - is:
1. Attachment Filter (Protects your computer from some e-mail viruses. See settings bellow)
2. Newsletter Plugin (Define newsletters that will never be treated as Spam. See settings bellow)
3. Substringfilter (Searches for substrings typically used by spammers)
4. Learning Filter (Training Area information)
5. URL-Filter (Place on top of the plugin-order for best results.)
6. Scripts Filter (Blocks emails that have embedded HTML scripts)
7. DNSBL (Filters mails sent from Servers on a dynamic Blacklist. Download a list of blacklisted DNS (http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.kugelmeier.net/getfile.php%3Fid%3D010))
8. Forum-Reader-PlugIn
9. Spam Word Filter
10. Bad Tag Filter[/b] (Filter mails containg invalid tags)
11. Image Filter (Filters mails containing images on external servers)
12. Server Tester (Filters mails that with spoofed sender-information)
13. Charset Plugin (Filters mails containing configured charsets.)
14. X-Header Filter (Filters mails marked as spam or infected by the mailserver)
15. RFC Validator (Filters mails that are not RFC conform or malicious)
16. HTML Links Filter (Filters HTML e-mails that have website or e-mail links)
17. No Comment! Filter (Filters e-mails that have too many HTML comments.)
18. Empty Mail Filter (Filters e-mails that are empty or have very few words. Lower like this position only if you really receive emails without message body)
19. Mystic-Signs-Filter (Filters mails containing strange charset in the subject-line)
20. Whitestringfilter (Searches for "white" substrings in your mails.)
Filter not listed above: Signatures: Handles Mails with your signature or 'spam from you'
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Filter Properties/Training Area:
Set here how many days you want to wait until the messages are cleaned form the Training Area without user interaction. You can set either the maximum size of the Training Area (in Kb).
Filter Properties/Aggressiveness:
In a personal email account (not commercial) you could set HIGH (very few spam messages, you can set the probability threshold even higher than the default value of 70%) or VERY HIGH (no other than my friends emails) and, from time to time, increase the number of your friends.
VERY HIGH: if you only want to receive mails from senders that are in your Friends List. Dynamic filtering by keywords will be disabled. You will only receive messages from your friends.
HIGH: if you want to get rid of spam. Filter threshold will be set to a low value. A message will be deleted even if it contains only a few spam words.
Senders/Blocked Senders:
When you work with the messages at the Training Area and/or Recycle bin, try to set all the domain as blocked, you will prevent mutation of the user name under the same domain. Use wildcards! For instance, you can block all the domain of yahoo accounts like this: *@yahoo*
Of course, in Recycle bin you will be able to restore the good ones after.
Please, choose Don't download messages from blocked senders. Skipping messages from blocked senders may save time and bandwidth. If you enable this option, all messages from blocked senders will be deleted from the server. You will not be able to restore them. Although, if you want to keep the possibility of restoration, activate the option Keep Spam-Mails on the server until I delete them from the Recycle Bin. The option Automatically learn from messages from blocked senders will also be disabled.
Newsletters:
Check the option Don't save newsletters in the Training Área.
Attachments:
You can block other extensions that are not in the default list:
ace, arc, arj, bzip2, cab, gzip, hta, htm, js, jse, pif, pst, rar, shb, shs, tar, zip, zoo
This way you can avoid virus infection. As in other cases, you will be able to restore the good ones from the Recycle bin.
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Thanks Technical. ;D
I have noticed that Spamihilator is working better as time goes on. However, every once in a while, it acts as if it is brain dead for some really easy to spot spams. :o
I have a few questions.
1) Do you notice a bit of a delay with the URL-Filter in startups and in email checking?
2) I thought that plugins to catch good emails should be first. But you put Whitestringfilter last. What is your reasoning for that?
3) You place the Empty Mail Filter near the end also, whereas I get 10% without body messages. For my case, would putting this closer to the front help speed things up?
4) How often would you recommend using the Compact the Learning Filter's memory?
I will probably have some more things to discuss in the future, but I appreciate the time and effort you have given to post this for users of Spamihilator. Their forum might be good if one knows German, but the English part of the forum is not as helpful. :'(
BTW - Spamihilator has another update to Spamihilator 0.9.8.1. This update has 3 critical bugs fixed. Get it at http://www.spamihilator.com/download/index.php (http://www.spamihilator.com/download/index.php). ;)
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Cojo and bbfi asked me some help to configure Spamihilator and avast! for optimal performance. I will start this thread with some suggestions and as soon other experiences were added and tested, correct the first posts.
If anybody wants to configure Spamihilator and avast! to be used in the same computer, please, see this related forum (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1622). Some links for spam applications are posted here (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=1509;start=0) at section SPAM Tools.
Technical, thank you and bless you for your hard work!!
Now I must read and study it so that I don't mess anything up ;D--not that I have ever done that before have I? ;)
cojo
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1) Do you notice a bit of a delay with the URL-Filter in startups and in email checking?
No, but I could test, disabling the URL-Filter...
2) I thought that plugins to catch good emails should be first. But you put Whitestringfilter last. What is your reasoning for that?
Probably I'm wrong, I'll put it before (as number 5) and test.
3) You place the Empty Mail Filter near the end also, whereas I get 10% without body messages. For my case, would putting this closer to the front help speed things up?
Sure, that not my case...
4) How often would you recommend using the Compact the Learning Filter's memory?
I don't know. What is the file concerning to this? I don't think the proccessing speed will change too much.
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4) How often would you recommend using the Compact the Learning Filter's memory?
I don't know. What is the file concerning to this? I don't think the processing speed will change too much.
In the Training Area, there is a new feature called Compact the Learning Filter's memory. The help page for Spamihilator says -
Use this feature to delete seldomly appearing words from the Learning Filters memory.
Important:
Do not use this feature too often. Otherwise, the Learning Filter will not be able to build up a good database.
Press "Compact" to delete some words. In the Compact dialog window, you can specify if you want to delete only from the spam words list, or from the non-spam words list, or both. Then press "Run" to start the process.
I'll also ask at the Spamihilator forum and see if I get an answer. ::)
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Okay, I just got an answer from S3bast1an at the Spamihilator forum for the Compact the Learning Filter's memory question -
2 month with a value of perhaps "3" If you compact it to often you would loose all new words that were learned ...
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Okay, I just got an answer from S3bast1an at the Spamihilator forum for the Compact the Learning Filter's memory question -
2 month with a value of perhaps "3" If you compact it to often you would loose all new words that were learned ...
sigh...bbfi...I'm still reading how to set it up :-[
I think after the problems my system had before, then the reformat, and "starting over" again...I am a bit scared of blowing up my Dell :o
fear is not a pretty thing!
cojo
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CoJo,
I use Thunderbird for my email but the settings would be the same for other email clients.
In the Avast4.ini file, I put this info in -
[MailScanner]
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:9990
DefaultSmtpServer=your_smtp_server.com
Of course, you will put your info in for the your_smtp_server.com part.
Next, in your email program, use the following settings -
Server name - 127.0.0.1
User name - your_pop3_server_name.com&your_user_name#127.0.0.1:9990
Again, insert your info for your_pop3_server_name.com and your_user_name
In Spamihilator, go to the Settings -> Connection and enter 9990. See picture. If you feel brave enough to use Spamihilator, keep posting your questions and Technical and I will try to help walk you through it.
As I keep on using Spamihilator, the more I get used to it. Also, it seems to be doing a fine job of stopping the spam. I feel by the end of a month, it will probably be 95% or more accurate. ;D
BTW - Technical, it appears we have our setttings slightly different for the User Name. Both seem to work. Is one way better than the other?
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bbfi, thank you!
I'm printing everything out so I won't rely on memory!
I think today is one of those days when things just look hard...does that make sense?
my brain is a bit fried ;D
I went to an airshow today...it's called "Thunder on the Hooch". "Hooch" is the nickname we have for our Chattahoochee River. and it was really warm in the sun...we reached the low 80s today :)
tomorrow, my mind will be more clear and my ears won't still be hearing the roar of the vintage airplanes! but they were so good...such stunts!! and very loud ;D
I really appreciate your posting the screenshot for me, bbfi! it will make things easier for me, my friend.
cojo
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I really appreciate your posting the screenshot for me, bbfi! it will make things easier for me, my friend.
Cojo, maybe next time I'll do the same but I thought that 'theory' is good too and we can learn and 'imagine', think like this stupid machine called computer ;D
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bbfi,
your settings: Pop3ServerName&UserName#127.0.0.1:port
my settings: localhost&UserName#Pop3ServerName
I think there is a difference, my God!
Maybe you scan the email first and then send it to Spamihilator.
I'm, on contrary, filter them into Spamihilator and then send to avast.
Am I wrong? Crazy?
Both settings work! That surprises me?! ::)
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I really appreciate your posting the screenshot for me, bbfi! it will make things easier for me, my friend.
Cojo, maybe next time I'll do the same but I thought that 'theory' is good too and we can learn and 'imagine', think like this stupid machine called computer ;D
Technical, you did absolutely wonderful! And I deeply appreciate it.
I'm just having one of those days where my brain isn't working right ;D
cojo
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your settings: Pop3ServerName&UserName#127.0.0.1:port
my settings: localhost&UserName#Pop3ServerName
I tried your way, Technical, and it works fine for me too. :o
What I'd like to know is which way would the email get scanned by Spamihilator first, then by Avast. I believe that this would be important to know. For instance, if the email is scanned by Avast first, wouldn't the scanned by Avast notification appear on the email and then be scanned by Spamihilator which would scan the notification words? This would lead to confusion to the Learning Filter if my concerns are correct. Right?
In the meantime, CoJo, either way works, but we have to determine which way is best. ::)
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your settings: Pop3ServerName&UserName#127.0.0.1:port
my settings: localhost&UserName#Pop3ServerName
I tried your way, Technical, and it works fine for me too. :o
What I'd like to know is which way would the email get scanned by Spamihilator first, then by Avast. I believe that this would be important to know. For instance, if the email is scanned by Avast first, wouldn't the scanned by Avast notification appear on the email and then be scanned by Spamihilator which would scan the notification words? This would lead to confusion to the Learning Filter if my concerns are correct. Right?
In the meantime, CoJo, either way works, but we have to determine which way is best. ::)
Maybe someone from Alwil could help us on this!? ::)
I would be pleased to be 'sure' about what happens when I receive an email...
The only I know is that Spamihilator could detect the avast! notes into the message body (or better at the header) and if it is infected and/or suspect it could be 'deleted' (Recycle bin) by Spamihilator. 8)
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Technical,
I have been using your configuration for one day now. Before that I had used my configuration for about 10 days. I am doing my own testing and I used the spami-wordlist-extractor and viewed both the good.spamihilator and bad.spamihilator word lists.
Using my configuration for 10 days, I had these results for certain words that Avast writes to the email -
Good Words List
Avast - 142
Alwil - 67
VPS - 21
Bad Words List
Avast - 17
Alwil - 2
VPS - 6
Using your configuration for 1 day, I had these results for certain words -
Good Words List
Avast - 74
Alwil - 32
VPS - 28
Bad Words List
Avast - 287
Alwil - 120
VPS - 116
So it appears to me that your configuration is causing Spamihilator's Learning Filter to add these Avast words to it good and bad lists therefore messing up the filter. Do you see it that way too?
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bbfi, as I said, my strategy is not based on spam-words but in white and black lists... I did not miss avast! emails and kill the undesired ones. How did you get that words lists?
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I downloaded the spami-wordlist-extractor which is available at http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1464&sid=98ec8419dcce4c1c88c920cc048921a1 (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1464&sid=98ec8419dcce4c1c88c920cc048921a1)
When you run it, the extractor creates two files - bad_wordlist.txt and good_wordlist.txt. These can be viewed in any text editor and will show every word that the Learning Filter catches and will show how many times each word has been registered. ;)
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I'll download it and post the results later...
Thanks bbfi ;D
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Technical,
I just got a post reply at the Spamihilator forum.
Hi!
There will be an Ignore-List in the next Spamihilator release. Please stay tuned!
Sincerely
Michel Krämer
I asked Michel a few questions about the Ignore List he will add and when he answers, I will post the info. ;)
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I used the spami-wordlist-extractor and my both good.spamihilator and bad.spamihilator word lists are:
Good Words List
Avast - 4579
Alwil - 1159
VPS - 80
Bad Words List
Avast - 235
Alwil - 0
VPS - 0
Except for the work avast (maybe because the note added at the end of the message body) it appears that my configuration is not causing Spamihilator's Learning Filter to add these Avast words both into good and bad lists. Therefore it does not seem to mess up the filter.
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Technical,
I just got a post reply at the Spamihilator forum.
There will be an Ignore-List in the next Spamihilator release. Please stay tuned!
Sincerely
Michel Krämer
Yeah, Michel is that great. It will be a very good feature.
Spamihilator is becoming better and better.
My average this month is more than 99,5%.
This week, for instance, I have not even just one spam email reaching my inbox! :D
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Technical,
I have more info about what the Ignore List will be like. See the post http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13878 (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13878) at the Spamihilator forum.
Spamihilator and Avast work great together. The Netsky virus is running wild right now and I get about 50 per day but my trusted Avast finds each one and warns me and deletes them as Spamihilator trashes the spams. They make a good team together to keep my computer clean of these types of garbage. ;D
I want to thank you for mentioning how much you like Spamihilator when I was using a different program. With the updated version and Michel's promise to include the ignore list, Spamihilator is becoming an almost perfect spam killer. ;)
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I want to thank you for mentioning how much you like Spamihilator when I was using a different program. With the updated version and Michel's promise to include the ignore list, Spamihilator is becoming an almost perfect spam killer. ;)
You're wellcome. By the way, I'm the Portuguese translator of Spamihilator. If you want, you can post this in that forum (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13878). I cannot understand, reading that forum, if avast! is scanning the email before or Spamihilator processes the message before sending it to avast!
Cojo, did you install Spamihilator and its plugins?
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I want to thank you for mentioning how much you like Spamihilator when I was using a different program. With the updated version and Michel's promise to include the ignore list, Spamihilator is becoming an almost perfect spam killer. ;)
You're wellcome. By the way, I'm the Portuguese translator of Spamihilator. If you want, you can post this in that forum (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13878). I cannot understand, reading that forum, if avast! is scanning the email before or Spamihilator processes the message before sending it to avast!
Cojo, did you install Spamihilator and its plugins?
:-[
I'm still reading...
sigh...I'm so afraid of doing something to this Dell now that it has been repaired so I am taking my time reading everything before I take any steps to install.
sorry that I am such a chicken...
cojo
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CoJo,
When you feel brave enough, we'll be here for you and your questions. ;)
BTW - You are no chicken, just look at your Avatar. That's a dove. ;D
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Technical,
By the way, I'm the Portuguese translator of Spamihilator. If you want, you can post this in that forum
Okay, it's done. See http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2520 (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2520). ;D
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Thanks bbfi...
Cojo, I think we can guide you faster than reading all the stuffs. Spamihilator won't bring you so much troubles (on contrary, will save your time and help you). But I respect your speed and your wishes. You know, when you need, call for us. 8)
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CoJo,
When you feel brave enough, we'll be here for you and your questions. ;)
BTW - You are no chicken, just look at your Avatar. That's a dove. ;D
;D you are right! I must ask Sasha for a new avatar...
something for a tough old bird who is afraid of a machine!! ;)
sigh...
cojo
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Cojo, are you working with Spamihilator and avast or not?
Do you need any help?
Btw, can you cook us some cookies for the night? ;D
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Technical and other Spamihilator users,
New update is available.
Changes in 0.9.8 with Patch 2 (0.9.8.2)
* A lot of bugs fixed
* Several memory leaks closed
* This update is recommended for all users who have problems with Spamihilator's stability
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Technical and other Spamihilator users,
New update is available.
Changes in 0.9.8 with Patch 2 (0.9.8.2)
* A lot of bugs fixed
* Several memory leaks closed
* This update is recommended for all users who have problems with Spamihilator's stability
Thanks bbfi, I'm downloading right now...
Edit: I cannot download the file, the server is not reached... Do you know why?
Btw, how is your spam killing average? Did Spamihilator learned anything after sometime? ;)
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Technical,
I had the same problem with the link. Try downloading from the program itself. Go to Settings, General Settings, Check Now. It worked for me. ;)
Spamihilator is getting much smarter. I am also building my Black List which is improving the performance also. I've been averaging about 101 spams per day and maybe 4 mistakes (usually on the spam side, once in a while there is a false positive, but adding the sender to my Friends List takes care of that problem). :D
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Just a thought....
If you guys want to have less headaches and bugs....
I would recommend Mail Washer or K-9.
Of the two, K9 is easier to set up, more stable than Spamhilator and does not act as a proxy but more a line filter with Bayesian filtering which means it "learns".
Normally I would not have said anything since I believe "to each their own", but Spamhilator is very over-rated and takes a lot of careful configuration with Avast.
Techie
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Hi Techie,
Thanks for the recommendations. However, Spamihilator is the one I'm sticking with. Over the years, I've tried just about every free spam checker. The three I recommend are Spamihilator, SpamPal, and G-Lock SpamCombat. ;)
but Spamihilator is very over-rated and takes a lot of careful configuration with Avast.
Actually, Spamihilator is easy to configure with Avast. No worse than any other spam checker. ;)
If I were to use an inline filter type spam checker, I would use G-Lock SpamCombat which I have tried and like a lot. It is free for any amount of accounts, whereas Mail Washer is not. I have tried K-9, but not particularly fond of it. ::)
Inline checkers bring emails directly to your computer, but proxy spam checkers check the emails and delete spam before they are downloaded. I prefer this type of checking. Also, no viruses or worms are downloaded either. Avast kills them when Spamihilator checks them, so no download occurs. ;D
After about a month, Spamihilator is pretty accurate also. Probably around 98% and it improves every day. The program keeps getting better as Michel (the developer) updates it. ;D
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Except for the last update that I cannot reach by no way - I cannot see the web page either!?! :( - I fully agree with bbfi. I think there is no comparison between Spamihilator and K9. They use different methods but Spamihilator is better in my opinion: features, stability, avoid unnecessary downloads, etc. ;)
Oh, I was forgotting, Spamihilator uses Bayesian filtering and can learn too ;)
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bbfi, Technical,
You guys made a good case for Spamhilator.
I might have to try it myself!
Thanks for the evaluation.
Techie
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Now I'm sad... I cannot even reach the website (www.spamihilator.com)... What did I do wrong? I do not change any browser setting :'( :'(
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First, try some other webpages to see what happens. If you can connect, then continue.....
Secondly, recheck you browser settings under Security.
Make sure they have not changed.
Thirdly, Shut down Spamhilitor itself and then try the site. The Bayersian filtering may have "learned" that there are ads on the page and shut you out.
Now that would be funny! :D
Lastly, contact your ISP and check the DNS settings.
Let me know.
Techie
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Their website was down for a while on the 6th. It's working today on the 7th. No need to worry about your settings. :D
I'll get back to you all later. Have some afternoon appointments. ;)
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Their website was down for a while on the 6th. It's working today on the 7th. No need to worry about your settings. :D
I'll get back to you all later. Have some afternoon appointments. ;)
For me, I cannot get in contact with that site... >:(
I did not change any security setting and all other sites are reached, only spamihilator is blocked :(
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Wow, that is weird. I just tried again and no problems at http://www.spamihilator.com/ (http://www.spamihilator.com/).
Could something have been changed without you knowing it on your computer. Perhaps your browser or Zone Alarm? ???
Does the update check in Spamihilator work?
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Technical,
bbfi seems to think as I do. Something changed in your computer that you are not yet aware of. I suspect a firewall change, or Spamhiliator itself.
Start shutting Fw, blockers , filters and such down until you contact the site, then backtrack.
I just went to the site again with no problem.
Techie
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Technical,
bbfi seems to think as I do. Something changed in your computer that you are not yet aware of. I suspect a firewall change, or Spamhiliator itself.
Start shutting Fw, blockers , filters and such down until you contact the site, then backtrack.
I just went to the site again with no problem.
Techie
Definetively not. I do not change anything. I do not allow any program/person to change anything...
Now I can get into their site. That was a mistery. I won't loose more time with that. Sorry to make you loose. Computerland is not deterministic 8)
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Technical,
Glad it is working. Yes, a mystery at that. Could have just been coincidence that when we tried it was up and working. I did have trouble at first getting onto the site. Could have been an overloaded server and since I keep at it, I managed to "slip" in.
No trouble at all. Helping you is what we are here for. You are a peer and friend. Your problem became ours.
Techie101
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No trouble at all Technical. ;)
I have some news for you and other Spamihilator users. New version available. Download link is www.spamihilator.com/updates/spamihilator_0_9_8_patch3.exe (http://www.spamihilator.com/updates/spamihilator_0_9_8_patch3.exe)
Changes in 0.9.8 with Patch 3 (0.9.8.3)
* Closing the connection works without problems now
* Spamihilator is now even faster
* OpenSSL-Libraries (1) updated to latest version (0.9.7d)
* Minor display errors fixed
Also, a new plugin called S_P_A_C_E Filter is available.
Eliminates e-mails containing spaced-out words like `v 1.a g-r a` or `v.i c.0~d.i_n`, etc. If there are five or more single alphabetic characters (including non-English characters such as ä,ß,è,î,õ,û, etc) separated by punctuation or spaces, then the mail will be labeled as spam and will NOT be sent to the learning filter.
It is downloaded at http://rubberchickenpoetry.com/Spamihilator/S_P_A_C_E_Filter_0_1_0.exe (http://rubberchickenpoetry.com/Spamihilator/S_P_A_C_E_Filter_0_1_0.exe)
Enjoy. ;)
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Thanks bbfi, I already got the two downloads.
I tryed to register myself at the English forum of Spamihilator. I tried to post there but, wow, it's too complicated for me to post there, even after you loggin you must inform your name, the title of the post... I cannot understand german buttons. Sorry, it was a mess :(
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Ah, was that you that posted as Guest at my post of "Portuguese Translation of Spamihilator = Technical"? ::)
I tried to post there but, wow, it's too complicated for me to post there, even after you loggin you must inform your name, the title of the post... I cannot understand german buttons. Sorry, it was a mess
Did you go to the English forum or have the German part translated? If you use http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=22 (http://www.spamihilator.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=22), the buttons and instructions are in English. It did take me some time to figure out how to post also. ::)
Have you tried the S_P_A_C_E Filter? It is catching about 15 spams a day for me. I put it in 4th place for priorities after Whitestring filter, Newsletter plugin, and Empty Mail filter. ;)
BTW - HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE
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I'm in a notebook now, without Spamihilator... But I put it in the 5 or 6th place too.
I'll try the English forum of it. How do we post as a normal user and not a guest there?
Sorry, the link you posted is shown in German not in English (except some words that seem to be the same in both languages...) :(
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Technical,
I know what the problem is now. I went to the page and mine is in English. So I logged off and it was in German. :o
Therefore, you have to register and set the language to English, then login. Click the register button (the one I show with the arrow in my picture).
You will see at the top left of the register page in German -
Benutzername: * (fill in your user name)
E-Mail-Adresse: * (fill in your email address)
Passwort: * (fill in your password)
Passwort bestätigen: * (fill in your password again)
These fields have to be filled in, then go down about three quarters of the page and find Board-Sprache:. Change the language to English.
Go to bottom of page and click the button that says Absenden for Submit.
Wait a few seconds until the main forum page comes up. You will notice that the top of the page is now in English. If you want to add more info to your profile, just click the button Profile and add your info (the page is now in English).
Now you can login and when you post, you will no longer be a Guest. ;)
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I have one very simple solution to the whole thing, change to:
MailWasher Pro.
No settings to worry about and it checks the mail for you before u download it from your server.
Actually, the settings are very simple. Even i had no problems with them.
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Thanks but I tried the free version a while back, but it is no good now for me since it does not do multiple accounts. :(
I do not want to pay for a spam checker, like MailWasher Pro, when there are plenty of free ones available. ::) We run a nonprofit organization, so we try to use only freeware to keep expenses down. ;)
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Thanks but I tried the free version a while back, but it is no good now for me since it does not do multiple accounts. :(
I do not want to pay for a spam checker, like MailWasher Pro, when there are plenty of free ones available. ::) We run a nonprofit organization, so we try to use only freeware to keep expenses down. ;)
I agree with you. We love freeware, Spamihilator does the job for multiple email accounts. ;)
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Technical,
To answer your question:
Can you teach us how to configurate Spamihilator and avast in a chain...
I mean: I want 'first' getting rid of spam and then scan the other messages (the ones really downloaded) with avast.
The following steps should work for most antispam proxies including Spamihilator, Spampal and PopFile etc.
Step one:
Setup the antispam proxy as described in their documentation. Most require you to change the pop server in your mail client from e.g mail.myisp.com to 127.0.0.1 (They all generally will not require you to change the pop server port from the default of 110)
Then each of them have instructions to change the pop user name by including the pop server name, for example if your pop user name was jsmith, Spamihilator requires that you change it to mail.myisp.com&jsmith or Spampal would request the change to jsmith@mail.myisp.com
Once you have setup your mail client to work with your favourite antispam proxy (Spamihilator , Spampal etc) and have tested that it all works, putting avast! in the chain is relatively simple particularily if you want the spamfilter to be the first to filter the mail and then have avast filter it after that.
Edit the avast4.ini file and replace/modify the following lines in the [MailScanner] section to these values:
[MailScanner]
PopListen=127.0.0.1:8110
Trust=127.0.0.1
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110
Now all you have to do is make one more change in your mail client. Go back to the mail client configuration and change the pop server port from 110 to 8110
This will place avast first in the proxy chain where it is the last to get mail (after being filtered for spam and just before it reaches the inbox in your mail client.
The flow will be:
email client-->127.0.0.1 (port8110)avast--->127.0.0.1 (port110) Antispam proxy--->pop server (mail.myisp.com - port 110)
This setup will also support multiple accounts.
I hope all this makes sense. It should work for all the antispam proxies I mentioned above
Note:
It only gets complicated if you changed the mail client pop3 port to something other then 110 in order to have the antispam proxy work (if it is listening on some other port.) If you did that just make sure when you edit the avasy4.ini file the you also replace the 110 at the end of the DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110 line with the port number. (You would still change the pop port in the mail client from whatever it is to 8110.)
Sean D
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One additional note based on what I learned in another thread today about chaining Mailmate and avast (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=4160 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=4160) )
If you are using Outlook and have enabled the avast! Exchange/Outlook Provider all of the above is probably unnecessary! Just set up the antspam proxy in the normal way and any mail downloaded by Outlook will be scanned anyway (after being scanned by the antispam filter).
Can someone verify that for me? (I stopped using Outlook and converted to Thunderbird early this year)
Ooops,
Sean D
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Very thanks sands...
I'll do some tests in OE early next week... I'm in a hurry now ;D
About MS Outlook, it makes sense but I do not use it. Let's wait for some 'beta' tester ;)
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I received the following email:
I read your post on avast forum about spamihilator.
I'm the author of one of plugins.
You writed:
"The filter order suggested - until further revision - is:
[...]
1. Attachment Filter (Protects your computer from some e-mail viruses. See settings bellow)
2. Newsletter Plugin (Define newsletters that will never be treated as Spam. See settings bellow)
[...]
19. Mystic-Signs-Filter (Filters mails containing strange charset in the subject-line)
20. Whitestringfilter (Searches for "white" substrings in your mails.)
[...]"
You put learning filter on 4th place.
That's not a good idea. Learning filter estabilish if a mail is spam or not spam.
If it estabilish that it's not a spam mail other plugins will never used.
Put learning filter after plugin with a low false positive ration (like my plugin) :-)
Bye! Andrea
Andrea, which is your email plugin?
Thanks for teaching us about Spamihilator.
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Andrea, I discovered you make the BAD TAG FILTER Plugin.
I put the Learning Filter just after yours... (on 12th Place).
Do you think I must rise your plugin? ;D
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Technical and other Spamihilator users,
Bad Tag Filter has been updated to version 0.2.3. :D
- Improved performances.
- Now fully configurable from settings panel of Spamihilator!
Get it at http://digilander.iol.it/fontanaandrea/BadTagFilter(v0.2.3).exe (http://digilander.iol.it/fontanaandrea/BadTagFilter(v0.2.3).exe).
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Does anybody know why I'm seeing double email messages in the Spamihilator Recycle Bin?
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Can anybody help me? ::)
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Technical,
Can't help. I don't have this problem. ::)
If you have figured out how to post at Spamihilator's site from my instructions, try asking there. If you still have problems posting there, let me know and I'll post it there for you. ;)
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As you know, there is a new method of email protection. Mail Wizard Protection will only be available for the operating systems Windows 95, 98, and Millennium. Avast! 4.5. won't need any special settings, even for other email clients than MS Outlook or MS Exchange. The protection on Windows NT, 2000, XP or 2003 will be completely automatic.
So, the configurations of Spamihilalor could return to the default ones:
Incoming mail pop3 server: localhost (or 127.0.0.1)
Account name: yourPOP3Server&yourUsername&120
On the email account settings, set the port for 120. Generally, at the 'Advanced' tab of configurations.
And you have to change avast4.ini file like the following:
Open the Avast4\Data\Avast4.ini file and go to [Mail scanner] section. If you change any items while the mail scanner is running, the new values will be loaded and used immediately after you save the avast4.ini file.
Mail scanner works as a simple SMTP/POP3/IMAP proxy server. It means that your mail program must be configured so that it sends requests to the Mail scanner, and the Mail scanner forwards them to the appro-priate SMTP (POP3, IMAP) server.
The Mail scanner uses ports 25, 110 and 143 of your computer. If you want to use Spamihilator (which uses these ports as well), it is necessary to properly set the items DefaultSmtpServer, DefaultPopServer and DefaultImapServer. For example, if you want to configure your system so that the Mail scanner "sits between" your mail program and a SMTP/POP3 server running on the same computer, configure items *Listen as above and add:
DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110
SmtpListen=127.0.0.1:25
PopListen=127.0.0.1:110
ImapListen=127.0.0.1:143
If you want the Mail scanner to scan mails for other computers too, it is necessary to allow connection acceptance also from other addresses than local. You achieve this by changing the items *Listen and setting the item Trust.
Example:
192.168.1.10 is the address of one of the network cards on the server through which the computers with addresses 192.168.1.20 and 192.168.1.21 are connected
PopListen=192.168.1.10:111
Trust=192.168.1.20,192.168.1.21
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Hi, I had alot of trouble initially configure Avast to scan emails on my win 98 but eventually sorted it,now I am trying to set up to use spamihilalor with no luck.I have read all the posts invloved on this forum.
I've changed ports to 120 and spami. works.you say 'configure items *listen as above' as above what ? then you list the settings below as ..
DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110
SmtpListen=127.0.0.1:25
PopListen=127.0.0.1:110
ImapListen=127.0.0.1:143
The listen ones were already like this the default ones I have changed from pop.tiscali.... to the above.
Avast does NOT scan the mail.
Also I am confused, I have added the 'alert' plug in that is still set to port 110 and doesn't have 'local' host in front of the account name and yet it STILL works, how come ?
Also my email alert program 'poppeeper' still works on the 'old' account settings.
I am totally confused, can they ALL work together and scan the email ?
Thanks
Andy
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Hi I think it is scanning the mail now, not sure if it's going to scan 'spam' though I will have to see.
I still dont understand how 'Poppeeper' is working when I havn't changed the account settings or port no.s though.
??? ??? ??? ???
Andy
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PopPeeper of Spamihilator or an external application?
The Spami plugin could work without changing the settings, i.e., the old ones you already set, no need to change.
In order of scan with avast:
So, the configurations of Spamihilalor could return to the default ones:
Incoming mail pop3 server: localhost (or 127.0.0.1)
Account name: yourPOP3Server&yourUsername&120
On the email account settings, set the port for 120. Generally, at the 'Advanced' tab of configurations.
And you have to change avast4.ini file like the following:
DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110
SmtpListen=127.0.0.1:25
PopListen=127.0.0.1:110
ImapListen=127.0.0.1:143
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Hi Tech
thanks for the reply, It's all set up and it's definately scanning all emails now and is working with 'Poppeeper' to :D
I have posted on the Spamhilator froum (with no reply yet) is there any point in the dcc plug in, looking at your priority settings recomendation on http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=3413 you don't even list the dcc filter.On the dcc filter in my settings the box that was full of 'servers' is now empty for some reason, how do I know what ones to upload ? all of them ? if I upload to many will it slow it down ?
Also I don't understand the point of the prority settings for the filters, is it purely a speed issue so you set up the filters that you think will 'catch' the spam first and then not check anymore ?
Also I think there is something like 27 filters to download , if it's claimed to be something like 98% effective is that only with ALL the filters installed ? Why are they not already installed?
If you don't need them why have them as a download ?
Sorry for so many questions and probably stupid ones!
Thanks Andy
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you don't even list the dcc filter
It's a new one and the post is very old.
The filter order could vary a lot depending on your system settings, the spams you receive, etc.
DCC take quite resources on some systems and you could feel uncomfortable with it... Maybe not. If you upload too many servers you will slow down the check...
Also I don't understand the point of the prority settings for the filters, is it purely a speed issue so you set up the filters that you think will 'catch' the spam first and then not check anymore ?
Speed and acuracy... configuration is what we can get with it. The first you catch and the accuracy (not consider spam a valid email).
Also I think there is something like 27 filters to download , if it's claimed to be something like 98% effective is that only with ALL the filters installed ? Why are they not already installed? If you don't need them why have them as a download ?
Plugins are optional. You must use the ones that fit your needs.
Sorry for so many questions and probably stupid ones!
No Andy, here there is not stupid questions... Only stupid answers...
Welcome to avast! Enjoy the best forum round 8)
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Hi Tech.
Thanks for your replys, I think I'm slowly getting my 'head round it' at least Avast is working perfectly with it which is the important thing ;D
Have a great day
Andy
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Hi I'm still 'messing around' with spami and posting on their forum as well but I hope you can answer this one better...
In the priorities section for the filters the default settings for all the filters is
'when the filter finds a spam mail stop filtering' &
'when the filter finds a NON spam mail stop filtering'
If the above rules are correct it will NEVER use anything other than the first filter, how can it, the first filter has to either 'find' the email as spam or not spam, either way it will then just stop the filtering process and none of ther others will ever get used.
I'm sure this is wrong I just don't understand how the filtering works, I have changed all mine to when a filter finds a NON spam mail to move on to the next one, which seems logical to me, but probably wrong.
Any ideas ?
Thanks Andy
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Just incase anyone has some set up problems with 'spami' to I can confirm that the above setting on the filters 'if a filter finds a NON spam email carry on to the next filter' Is CORRECT :-)
The default settings are 'bull'
I was having loads of spam slip through and now I have changed the default filter settings to the above it is catching EVERYTHING 100% :o
In the training and recylce bin area you can see that all the viruses are being caught by different filters rather than just one which was previously the case on the default settings.
Andy ;D
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I started using Spamihilator a few days ago. It seems to work very well, except.... I have one email I seem to get everyday >:(. I try adding spam words, rearranging priorities, but nothing keeps it from going directly to my inbox. I have these filters (in this order): Attachment, Newsletter, Addressee, Image, Learning, Spam Word, Scripts, Server, DCC, RFC, HTML, No Comment, Mystic, Alpha Soup, Whitestring. What should I try ??? The Header I keep getting is:
Return-Path: <tcvjuw@accelatech.com>
Received: (ConcentricHost mdeliver 3.0 filtering [VuVfRuA] on [fortitude.xo.com]);
with ESMTP id ABECC389A for <xxxxxx>; Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:57:22 -0400 (EDT)
Received: from ppp5-014.ciscom.ru (ppp5-014.ciscom.ru [79.120.55.5])
by fortitude.xo.com (ConcentricHost(4.0) MX) with SMTP id ABECC389A
for <xxxxxxx>;
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:56:19 -0400 (EDT)
Received: from Amelia Patrick (10.13.12.19) by ppp5-014.ciscom.ru (PowerMTA(TM) v3.2r4) id hfp53o05d78j59 for <xxxxxxx>; Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:56:47 +0300
Message-Id: <20071026145647.8363.qmail@ppp5-014.ciscom.ru>
To: <xxxxxxx>
Subject: October 75% OFF
From: VIAGRA ® Official Site <xxxxxxx>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:56:19 -0400 (EDT)
X-AllowList: Yes
X-UIDL: 82747
X-Antivirus: AVG for E-mail 7.5.503 [269.15.11/1094]
Thanks,
Tom
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tcat, remove your email address of the previous post or you'll receive even more spam...
Did you try to blacklist the email address or even the domain of the sender of that particular email?
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Thanks. I'll try blacklisting. Which one is the Domain of sender, the "From" appears to be me (but not...) I'll try blacklisting 79.120.55.5, 10.13.12.19, ciscom.ru, accelatech.com to see what happens.
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I don't use Spami, but doesn't it have any learning function that if you continually flag it as spam it will eventually pick them up on its own.
I have MailWasher Pro and it has heuristics, learning and Origins of spam, that really take care of most of my spam and I only have 4 filters to catch anything else.
1. MeMe - email sent to my (Me) email address purporting to come from Me, so that if flagged for deletion.
2. Not For Me - If the my email/name isn't in the To or CC address it is flagged for deletion, much of the spam you get is bulk spam and your email may not be directly addressed to you.
3. General 1 - Common words used in S P A M but not words that may easily be in normal email - like viagra, cialis, pharmacy, medicines, etc.
4. General 2 - Overflow for general 1 as there is only room for 10 rules (each with its own word).
I try to avoid adding an email address to a blacklist as they are contain moving targets as they are frequently forged, soon the blacklist is huge and may slow the receipt of email. My Blacklist currently has 0 entries.
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I used Mailwasher for a while, but just ended up with too many special filters. It also "seemed" a little slower than Spami. Didn't really like going to their window then going to OE to bring in the non-spam.
My ISP catches about 75 spams a day and misses about 40. Spami filters 90% of that correctly (and I've only been using it a few days). The problem with this particular piece of spam is it goes directly to my inbox (as if it's a friend). It doesn't show up in the learning filter at all (so I can't mark it). Once it's through to your in box, there's no marking it as spam. This is the only real drawback I see with Spami.
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I have been using it for years from the free version and I bought the Pro version when it was version 3 and I wouldn't be without it as I'm on dial-up I don't want to download all the email to scan it so the limited download is great for me. I just open that first and click process and off it goes deletes from the server and launches OE and download only those I hadn't flagged.
Take him out of the friends list, surly a normal emails from him I would assume wouldn't trigger a reaction from Spami ?
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Didn't really like going to their window then going to OE to bring in the non-spam.
That's the same reason I've abandoned MailWasher...
The problem with this particular piece of spam is it goes directly to my inbox (as if it's a friend). It doesn't show up in the learning filter at all (so I can't mark it). Once it's through to your in box, there's no marking it as spam. This is the only real drawback I see with Spami.
No it's not. It should be on 'Training area' and you can mark it from there.