At EasyTechJunkie, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.
What is a Spam Filter?
A spam filter is a software program that sorts incoming mail in order to identify and pull out junk mail, also known as spam. It can be installed on an Internet mail server, on a private network server, or on a personal computer. Spam is not only bothersome, but it can be used for spreading malicious code like viruses and Trojans, and for perpetuating phishing scams. For these reasons and more, a spam filter is a great way to help protect a computer or network and cut out junk mail.
In order to detect spam, the filter compares parameters in incoming mail to lists of configurable rules. For example, it can be set to check the subject heading of incoming mail for terms associated with pornography, pharmaceuticals and other common spam products. The sender field might also be filtered for ranges of IP address associated with spammers or marketers.
Over the years, spammers have become more sophisticated in their attempts to get junk mail past spam filters. Spam will often include innocuous or even personable subject headings such as "Hi!" or "Regarding your inquiry," making it difficult for a general ISP filter to tell spam from legitimate email. Therefore, some spam still gets passed from Internet mail servers to connected private networks and to end-users.
For this reason, many network administrators install a spam filter on the office or company network, as do end-users at home. In these cases, the filter can be highly configured to catch junk mail that makes it past the more generally-configured programs located online. Like other software programs, spam filters are not all equal. Currently, the most popular is an "intelligent" program based on Bayesian statistical methodology. It compares incoming mail to a set of user-defined rules, then identifies spam based on mathematical probabilities.
In the simplest configuration, a spam filter passes junk mail to a spam folder, and legitimate mail to the inbox. The user can review the assignments and correct mistakes. The program will remember corrections and avoid making those mistakes in the future. In other words, a Bayesian program is "taught" what to look for, and "learns" from its mistakes. Before long, the filter will make few mistakes and can operate virtually user-free. One popular free spam filter boasts a near-perfect record after an initial "training" period.
A good filter will also use a "white list" to provide protection from phishing schemes. People who do online banking, for example, can enter the bank's correct website address in white list. The spam filter will check incoming mail for misspelled or similarly spelled addresses and reject them as phishing attempts.
There are several spam filtering programs available online, most with a 30-day free trial period.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![A spam filter is designed to clean junk mail from an email inbox.]()
By: adimasA spam filter is designed to clean junk mail from an email inbox. -
![Spam represents a very real threat to millions of e-mail users worldwide.]()
By: Tyler OlsonSpam represents a very real threat to millions of e-mail users worldwide. -
![Some anti-spam programs simply filter emails based upon a regularly updated list of known spammers.]()
By: a4stockphotosSome anti-spam programs simply filter emails based upon a regularly updated list of known spammers.
Discussion Comments
@Terrificli -- I think finding that sweet spot is almost impossible for companies that build and deploy email spam filters. That is because spammers are always finding new ways to get around filters to they can send you all that "wonderful" information about miracle hair cures, augmentation techniques for men and all sorts of slop.
You could filter all of that junk out by making those filters very restrictive, but you are right -- you will miss a lot of the stuff you need.
The solution? Go with a forgiving spam filter and then set up manual filters in your email client. Most email clients will let you manually direct all emails from certain addresses to a spam folder. You do have to spend some time setting up those manual filters, but you will get rid of a lot of garbage that way.
It is not a perfect solution, but it is the best one I have found so far.
@Markerrag -- The tricky thing is that email spam filters cannot be too restrictive or too forgiving. If they are too restrictive, you will miss out on a lot of emails you actually want. If they are too forgiving, you will get enough spam to choke a horse. The trick is finding that sweet spot. You know, that middle ground that filters out most of the crud but lets the good stuff get through to you.
Unfortunately, the good old email spam filter doesn't work well enough in almost any instance you might care to mention. At work, I still get shelled with mostly garbage emails that manage to get through the "powerful" spam mail filter my Internet service provider claims is so great.
It gets rid of some things, but I would guess that about 90 percent of the emails I receive are pure garbage. That is a real problem because it has turned a very fast, effective way of communicating into an annoyance. Once the spammers hit text messaging in full force, we will have an evil bigger problem.
Post your comments