Antispam Software

Antispam Software

Anti-spam software products are designed to combat the overwhelming amount of unsolicited, and often malicious electronic messages which are commonly received by users of computer terminals, those which are connected to the internet.  They make sure that no insidious programs or solicitation messages would ever reach the user, enabling the latter to have an easy time in using their computers, without the risk chances of operation failures and delay, as caused by the often annoying pop-up notices and messages as described above, which are also known as spam.

The Root of the Problem: Electronic Spam

Spamming is an abusive electronic messaging method, which takes advantage of the relatively anonymous nature of the internet, to indiscriminately and deliberately send bulk amounts of mostly unsolicited messages.  Although the usual messaging system associated with such a technique is e-mail, spam is also sent through various messaging mediums which rely on the interconnectivity of the World Wide Web, or any communication device, such as messaging through mobile phones and instant messaging on chatrooms; through online search engines, blogs, Usenet newsgroups, and internet forums; spam is also sent through junk fax transmissions. 

Spam content usually involves advertisements of bogus services, such as lottery winnings or get-rich-quick financial opportunities, and also content of pornographic nature.  The purpose of the senders for delivering the unsolicited message is to grab the user's attention from whatever activity he or she is currently into, and as much as possible make them revert to the sender's homepage by clicking on the appropriate button on the message.  This is an insidious marketing device which is hard to track down on the internet, and even if it is possible to find the source of spam, the user usually won't bother to report it to the sender's service provider, so advertisers practically have the upper hand in the situation. 

The reason why spamming is notoriously widespread is that it is economically feasible for advertisers; the bombardment of such messages take no significant operating cost in relation to the possible profits, aside from the management of the sender's mailing lists, which can be done by software installations.  Senders also have minimal accountability for the bulk mails, since pinpointing the exact source of a spam is quite difficult, even with sophisticated software.  The ones who take the brunt of the burden are the user and the internet service provider, in terms of a lowered productivity, and damages incurred as a result of fraud.

Characteristics of Anti-spam Software

Anti-spam software is developed to address this problem.  Such computer programs prevent the influx of spam either by blocking the message before entry into the user's system, or by filtering messages in order to sift out the legitimate ones from the malicious.  These are basically done through numerous ways.  Spam usually enters the user's computer through the electronic mail inbox, and anti-spam software cuts this scheme to the quick by preventing such messages form ever entering it. 

Anti-spam software also has built-in message filters which either automatically choose which mail to block or accept through pre-programmed settings, or filters which operate through manual verification or confirmation from the end user itself.  Spam filters normally base their operation depending on the sender's domain, the e-mail's content, the subject of the message, keywords which are included in the message or subject, and other means.  Anti-spam software also has the ability to report the source of the spamming activity to the latter's internet service providers, thereby notifying them of the unsolicited mail and warranting legal action to be undertaken. 

Some forms of spamming use indirect methods of sending junk mail, usually through a user's own mailing list; the bulk messages doesn't come from an unknown source, but as a forwarded message from a friend or relative.  This is more insidious since the user will not normally hesitate in opening a message from someone whose identity is familiar.  Once the message link is clicked, the spam enters the system.  Anti-spam software products offer a solution by blocking the spam message, but letting the legitimate mail from the acquaintance through, so the latter's e-mails are never really blocked in the process. 

Most anti-spam software products usually begin operation as soon as the computer boots up, are compatible with most e-mail account types and software, and work smoothly with currently available operating systems.

Types of Spam Filtering and Monitoring

Anti-spam software products afford the user a lot of features, in terms of electronic message monitoring, or filtering.  Spam filters usually come with numerous customizable optional settings.  Filter by sender affords the user the ability to sort out incoming mail by its source; the feature includes a preset list of currently well-known spam-sending domains.  Filter by recipient sorts out incoming messages based on the recipient, allowing the user to deny an e-mail which does not carry his or her address on the recipient field. 

Filter by subject allows the user the option of sorting messages by subject; common spam message subjects like 'Congratulations! You are our 100th recipient and you may qualify for a prize!' or 'Order Herbal Viagra Online' are dubious at the outset, and may be included as marked subjects of potential messages for denial.  Filter by body sorts messages based on certain text keywords contained in the body of the message, such as 'earn fast cash' or 'free porn.' 

Special filters include secondary options such as attachment filtering, which allows for instant denial of all incoming message attachments, or just executable attachments or programs which has the potential of causing damage of the user's computer; filtering a message which does not carry a subject; and forwarded message filtering, which either denies all forwarded messages, or sorts them out based on preset filter criteria.

An option is also available which affords the user the ability to specify certain e-mail addresses which are legitimate and reliable sources, such as those from friends or relatives, and exempts them from filtering, irregardless of the messages' content.  Since it is possible that the user may inadvertently filter out the wrong message by mistake, anti-spam software products also offer a recovery feature, enabling such users to retrieve any mail which were mistakenly blocked out or denied. 

Giving Spammers due Payback

Aside from the previously-mentioned filtering features carried by most anti-spam software products, users are also afforded the opportunity to get back at spammers.   Options include sending a customizable unsubscribe notification to the source of the spam, or posting an abuse notice to the administrator or provider of the internet service which the source used to send out the spam. 

Some anti-spam software even allows the user to get back at spammers right at the source, with features such as the option of sending any message as large as one, ten, or a hundred kilobytes to the source, as many times as possible, targeting the spam source's website, personal e-mail addresses used for spamming purposes, or online ordering forms; ensuring message delivery by picking which internet browser the user wishes to emulate; activating measures for counter-detection, in case the spammers has any deployed anti-spam filters on their own website (a possibility which is usually present); sending the e-mail directly to the electronic mailbox of the spammers upon discovery, using similar technology used by the spammers themselves; the ability to monitor the amount or size of the data which is being transferred, and the number of packages or messages sent; and the option of getting an automatic update as supplied by the particular software, in addition to submission of the score online. 

While such programs may afford the user an opportunity to give the source of the spam a bittersweet comeuppance, the controversial nature of the activity, that of spamming the spammer, may turn off some users from employing such a tool.  But for those who are tired of being constantly bombarded with useless, annoying, and potentially destructive messages everyday, and are looking for a way to deliver much-needed payback, the end benefits are well worth the trouble.  Such anti-spam software is usually regularly updated in anticipation of inevitable countering techniques which the spammers may use, to defend their websites from 'retro-spamming' activity.

Consumer Advice on Choosing the best-suited Software Package

Since spamming is a notoriously widespread practice on the internet, a lot of anti-spam software products would naturally come out in an effort to combat the activity; and usually, no two anti-spamming software are the same, as the included features are basically dependent on the user's purpose, needs, and system capability.  Their prices also vary widely, based on the same criteria mentioned.  How should the average consumer choose between the wide varieties of anti-spam software which are currently available?  First, the user should keep expectations realistic; anti-spam software, no matter how updated and efficient, are far from being perfect. 

The user shouldn't expect them to detect and catch everything; in fact, they also have the tendency to include legitimate messages in the category of spam, denying such and providing the possibility of filtering out a potentially important message.  The user should also expect to allot some time in customization and refinement of the configurations of the anti-spam software, as they come with production presets which may or may not fit the user's current specification needs.  It may take some time before the user configures the software to fit preferences, like which messages should or should not be filtered; keeping the features manageable so that they can easily be re-customized as needed may also require some getting used to. 

Users should also make sure that the software is compatible with their PCs, operating system, e-mail client, or browser, as an incompatible program can slow down the system or crash it.  Finally, a good anti-spam product must provide customer support, from a company which has an extensive know-how and track record with the software industry, and is able to keep up with spamming developments through provision of regular updates and advice for their customers.

Spammers do not take a breathing pause in upgrading their methods, and regularly updating their spamming technology are one of their primary focuses; spamming and counter-spamming is a relentless cycle which must be constantly kept up with.