For Spam Detective and other rule-based email filters
MailShield (formerly known as Spam Detective), as noted in our report on Managing Spam, provides support for POP3, IMAP and MAPI mail systems. Its IMAP support makes it one of the programs on our anti-Spam short list, here at PC Buyer's Guide, as this is the protocol our mail server uses to allow us "anytime, anywhere" access to our email from multiple locations. Formerly sold for a mere $22.50, with a freely downloadable evaluation version available at Emtec's website, the software is now sold in 10-user license packs for US$500.
Emtec programmer Markus Schmidt told PC Buyer's Guide, "before we started SpamDetective I checked out all the major spam filters (I remember SpamWeasel and SpamEater). I simply looked for a program that would relieve us from the spam we get but didn't find any (the whole story is told in our help file, check out "How SpamDetective works" and "How the Spam Detective got his job" if you like). In a nutshell, SpamDetective only exists because the client side spam filters we tested simply didn't what we expected them to do (which is, of course, mainly to delete spam, but which also is, to not delete regular mail)."
Briefly, SpamDetective works by assigning demerit points to certain attributes it observes in incoming mail: multiple recipients, certain keywords (e.g., "Save Money") and so on. When a piece of mail reaches a certain threshold, SpamDetective can flag it for deletion or, if you prefer, chuck it straight into the trash. All of the settings are easily user-customizable (you can, for example, teach it the addresses and names of your friends, to ensure that messages from these parties will not be mistaken for spam) and it's really not complicated to configure or use.
Here's how I have configured SpamDetective on my system:
In the "subject line" area (right side of basic Spam options > Spam Indicators)
Add the following:
afternic; bcentral
W32.Elkern
Worm Klez.E immunity
A powful tool
a very dangerous virus
merchant services
,how are you
Vacation offer
A very nice game
sexy pictures
10 years younger
Reverse aging
** You are
-approval-
BOOST
HGH
performance formula
pennies a day
Business Opportunity
on the left side (of the Spam Indicators dialog), I add:
merchant; credit card
income; APR
Business Proposal
Marketing; unsubscribe
special offer; Grow Your
investment; diplomas
Hello,This is a; university
you would like it.
you would enjoy it.
You're the first player.
Opportunities; SAVE
all natural; aphrodesiac
sexlife
<HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY>
iframe src=3D
height=3D0 width=3D0
/iframe
virus that spread through email.
You should use these rules in conjunction with customized "send to trash" and "trash immediately" thresholds. I have the send to trash threshold set to 101; I have the trash immediately set to a fairly high number (over 480). Your needs may vary.
With this set up, it trashes all Klez worm infected messages automatically, plus the vast majority of emails I know I don't need to see, for "mortgage approval," "Viagra" and quite a few naughty words. Already, my time wasted dealing with junk mail has been reduced by 80 percent.
Standard disclaimer: I don't guarantee these rules will catch every virus or every spam (in fact, they almost certainly won't, and mail rules are no substitute for an up-to-date anti-virus program). These terms could also prevent the blocking of useful mail. Bennett Arts Ltd. makes no claims as to their usefulness for any particular purpose, bla bla bla. Use at your own risk.
;-)
For Further Reading
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