It's like trying to write in a dark alley, while fending off watch salesmen, drug pushers and thieves.
I always get a lot of spam—conventional spam filters don't work, because I get (and need) a lot of legitimate mail from strangers (letters to the editor and the like)—and normally I'm fine with deleting the crap.
But lately it's been flowing out of a firehose. In the last two days, here are some of the subject lines:
***
Viagara is that helping hand in bed!
Get zaxnax here! [sic]
you can work from any point of the world
Relax and take the time
Replica watches, bags, pens
Curso Terapia Celular y Bilogica
No more embarrassment!
Be confident and stand tall
***
That's just a tiny fraction, and those are the clean ones!
Is there a spam filter that would keep some of that stuff out while letting all the letters-to-the-editor, conference-speaker proposals and offers to write the next cover story for The New Yorker in?
In exchange for a helpful answer, I'll trade a 55-gallon drum full of Cialis.
Comments (8)
OR you could perform a small favor helping Mr. Lionel David Umgawa of Lesotho access his billions, for which he would reward you handsomely, and then you could quit working completely and not have to worry about spam ever again.
Posted by Jane Greer | July 20, 2007 5:12 PM
Posted on July 20, 2007 17:12
Earthlink has a pretty decent spam blocker, but I'm not going to tell because I have as much use for Cialis as I do for Viagra. Besides, I am stimulation enough. Enough said.
Posted by Diane | July 22, 2007 2:58 PM
Posted on July 22, 2007 14:58
David, when you find it, be sure to e-mail it to everyone you know. And don't forget the prayer request for poor little Kenny in Georgia who lost both his legs and arms in an alligator attack and is now trying to get into the Guiness Book of Records as being the kid who gets the most greeting cards ever.
Will
Posted by Will Daniel | July 23, 2007 9:38 AM
Posted on July 23, 2007 09:38
David - the best spam filter I know of is Barracuda, which Goodyear installed some months ago. It blocks about 70 percent outright, and tags another 15 or so percent for easy management. That said, the astounding creativity of the spam-meisters seems to be increasing, as I still get a few miscreants poking their way through. For the Yahoo! and Hotmail accounts, fugeddaboudit. You're just going to have spam for days.
Posted by Sean Williams | July 23, 2007 10:16 AM
Posted on July 23, 2007 10:16
Diane, do you have a 900 number?
Will
Posted by Will Daniel | July 23, 2007 11:39 AM
Posted on July 23, 2007 11:39
Will,
No. But if the situation changes and I'm forced to pursue a new career, I'll let you all know.
Posted by Diane | July 23, 2007 8:32 PM
Posted on July 23, 2007 20:32
Most often I get, "Separate yourself from other men." Never before have I been so exhorted to be a hermit.
Posted by Diane | July 24, 2007 5:31 AM
Posted on July 24, 2007 05:31
Sean, I'm not hoping to eliminate spam entirely--how would I keep in touch with things?--just reducing the volume to a dull roar.
But does this Barracuda work by eliminating all mail from people with whom you haven't e-mailed already?
Posted by David Murray | July 24, 2007 2:24 PM
Posted on July 24, 2007 14:24