A solution for spam
Finally, I believe, crossing my fingers, I've found the solution. Oddpost, a competitor to Hotmail in web-based email, is killing my spam. I've appealed for help before, and tried everything. ·Cloudmark's Spamnet was clever, allowing users to exchange information about particularly pernicious spammers, but it requires an Outlook plug-in. So it's no good if you're on the road, or accessing email from a handheld. · All the geeks recommend server-based solutions such as SpamBayes, but most require the user to install the spam classifier on an email server, which is beyond most human beings with lives. · Whitelist solutions, such as Mailblocks and Spamarrest work well. But Mailblocks only gives access to email through a browser, not through Outlook. Spamarrest didn't learn from the emails I sent, and would still require corresponds to jump through hoops in order to reply. Both systems, which require email senders to fill out a form before they can reach you, are extremely irritating. I found myself checking the held mail every day, which defeats the purpose. (Mailblocks picks up Yahoo and Hotmail email, though, which is cool.) · And, now, Oddpost. The email service, a pay-for rival to Hotmail, boasts built-in Bayesian spam filtering, which detects spam by looking for phrases such as "penis extension" in the subject line. Until recently, email was only accessible through a browser. But Oddpost has recently provided POP access, which allows Outlook users to call down their email. Oddpost picks up email from your normal accounts, filters it, and delivers largely spam-free email to your inbox. So far, Oddpost hasn't held any email I wanted to receive. And the system should get better over time, as it learns the phrases that denote spam.
My only remaining wish: Oddpost should combine Bayesian spam filtering with a whitelist. I want the system to let through anyone on my address book, and then to apply quite tough criteria to any random messages. If Oddpost does that, I'll die happy.
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