Bayesian Spam Filters Explained
In a word Bayesian spam filters are "intelligent". Bayesian spam filters are intelligent in so far as they're capable of comparing two sets of information and acting on the result. This is in direct contrast to the vast majority of other spam filters who use pre-built rules to decide which e-mail is spam and which is not.
Bayesian spam filters can take one group of legitimate e-mail and another group of spam and compare the values and data of each. The definition of legitimate e-mail that it creates at the end of this comparison session is what it uses going forward to scan your inbox for spam.
FYI Bayesian spam filters are named after Thomas Bayes an 18 century cleric who created something known as Bayes Theorem. In summary Bayes Theorem is as follows: .."in statistical inference to update estimates of the probability that different hypotheses are true, based on observations and a knowledge of how likely those observations are, given each hypothesis." In plain English it looks for obvious repeating patterns to form an "opinion" on something. In spam filter terms that "opinion" becomes a rule which keeps you spam free (or pretty close :-)
The really neat thing about Bayesian filters is that they're capable of learning. For example if they decided to block an e-mail because the filter perceived it as junk but the user marked it as valid mail the Bayesian filter then knows not to block that type of e-mail in the future. So, in time, this type of spam filter learns enough to block spam far more effectively. AOL have embraced this type of spam filter with the launch of AOL 9.0 and AOL Communicator- if the big dog wants it then it must be worthwhile?
So what Bayesian spam filtering options are available to you? Well quite a few to be honest and you'll be pleasantly surprised by some of the names involved :-) The first one on the list is AOL with their AOL Communicator product. The spam filtering features in AOL Communicator and AOL 9 are, to be honest, impressive. Think what you will of the provider themselves AOL Communicator is an excellent product and is suitable for use by both PC and Mac OSX users.
Next up we have Eudora. The nice folks at Qualcomm have designed an excellent e-mail client that also has built in Bayesian spam filtering. I've used Eudora in the past and it's a neat little package. Again the benefits here are advanced integrated spam filtering with your e-mail automatically. Mac OSX and OS9 users are in luck with Eudora providing support for both.
If you'd like to know more about spam filters or just spam in general please drop by our site at www.spam-site.com
Need a spam blocker? Check out Spam-Site.com for spam filter reviews and spam related information.
Related Articles:
Spam ? Problem Of Vital Importance On The Internet
Almost everyone who accesses the Internet and uses e-mail knows about spam. The common definition of spam is e-mail that is unsolicited, undesired by the recipient. Spam is sent out by automated programs to thousands or millions email addresses at a time. In most cases spam emails offer you different services, products (medicines, goods, software programs etc.), and ?get rich quickly? plans. You can simply delete them if you receive several unsolicited emails per day. But if you get tens or hundreds spam messages every day, it is a real problem. In order to understand how to deal with spam in your inbox, let?s examine some core questions concerning spam:
Spam - We Have It, Now How Do We Stop It?
If your stock performance has matched the percentage rise of email spam, you will be retiring soon. The latest indicators are stating that Spam has nearly doubled in the past year alone. It now affects nearly everyone with an email account. Unfortunately for business, it also carries a rising cost in staff, resources and performance. Here are some strategies on how to start your assault on winning back your Inbox.
Types of Spam Filters
Spam filters are designed to block unwanted messages generated by unethical senders. Presently, there are different spam filter programs in the market available for email users to purchase. These programs are designed differently, which means that their methods of detecting spam vary.
Jury Finds Spam Victim Liable for $2.5 M for Calling Senders of LUCE 'Spammers'
In a case of justice gone horribly wrong, WebGuy.net's Mark W. Mumma, ISP, spam victim and anti-spam activist, has been dealt the ultimate "low blow" by a Federal Court. The small, Oklahoma City based ISP has been ordered by a U.S. Federal Jury to pay $2.5 Million in damages to the very company that admitted sending him unsolicited e-mail in the first place.
What You Should Know About Trackback Spam
Trackback facilitates communication between blogs. When a blogger writes a new entry whether to comment on or refer to an entry found at another blog, the commenting blogger can notify the other blog with a Trackback ping. The receiving blog will display summaries and links to all the commenting entries below the original entry. Trackback spam is when Trackback pings to a site that directs viewers to a totally unrelated URL.
FeedMagic.com Launches a Customer Follow-Up Service That Cannot Be Blocked By Spam Filters
Fed up with overly-zealous spam filters, Kent Thompson launches FeedMagic.com, a new autoresponder service that utilizes RSS technology to deliver messages that cannot be blocked. Businesses can now distribute their personalized newsletter or special offers without having to rely exclusively on email, because FeedMagic lets subscribers choose between email and a personalized RSS feed for delivery.
Knowing Spam Blacklists
The term "blacklist" gives you either a kid image of a list that is colored dark black, or a list that functions the way the Schindler's List does. You are wrong either way.
Messaging Architects Announces Release of New Email Security and Management Product Offering Improved Spam Detection and Content Filtering
Messaging Architects, the leader in risk management software and services for enterprise email, recently announced the availability of M+Guardian 2008.1, the newest release of its email security and management gateway. Important enhancements in this new release of M+Guardian include greater flexibility of the anti-spam filter modules, improved end-user management from the administrative interface and better dashboards, as well as a completely redesigned spam quarantine powered by WARP technology for accelerated access and unlimited information display.
SPAMfighter Receives Highest Rating Amongst Top Spam Filters from a Leading French Magazine
SPAMfighter was chosen as the Editor's Choice in a review done by Windows News in France.
How To Stop Spam
I imagine you have seen, heard about, or already know what spam is. But just in case you don't, it is unsolicited and unwanted emails that arrive in your email inbox from a person or company that you don't know.