Use SpamAssassin to stop spam from reaching your inbox...

For some reason I only just discovered this cool little trick using SpamAssassin. This isn't anything new but it was a BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) for me... I can't beleive I missed this. Hopefully others who have missed this can benefit from this post as well...

I previously enabled SpamAssassin and all it did was still send the spam to my inbox... I did remove the contents of the spam emails but I still had to go through all my mail to delete all the spam... This is the biggest time waster.

There are companies out there that give you software to stop spam but I remembered I had SpamAssasin in CPanel... I decided to have a play...

In the SpamAssassin admin located in CPanel it says:

Without Spam Box you can configure SpamAssassin to mark your email with an identifying subject (e.g. ***SPAM***), which can then be filtered out into an appropriate location.

I read this and thought I'd have a play to see if I can stop the spam from coming through to my inbox altogether. I thought SpamAssassin had to have a feature to delete spam automatically...

I went into Configure SpamAssaion. There is a setting "rewrite_header subject" which is "Text added to the Subject: line of mails that are considered spam. " I entered ***SPAM*** into the field. I saved the settings and then say another peice of text:

To simply have the server DELETE and NOT deliver emails that are tagged as spam by SpamAssassin, click here now.

Another thing I missed... I clicked the link and it automatically set-up an Email Filter... Duh! Now that I've done that, no more spam... It's great! If only I found this a month or two ago when the spam was increasing mroe and more...

Hope that helps!

Microsoft launches Windows Live OneCare

They have had a year of testing and now have finally released it for $49.95 USD per year...

The website: http://onecare.live.com/

Here's an overview from the website:

All-in-One Protection and Maintenance

Windows Live OneCare helps protect your computer, and its automated optimization features keep your PC running at its speediest. OneCare even regularly backs up your important files. You get all this in one convenient package:

• Protection Plus, with its antivirus and antispyware scanners and managed, two-way firewall, helps protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers, and other threats. It runs continuously in the background, but you can scan individual files and folders for viruses on demand simply by right-clicking them. You can even scan attachments you receive via Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger.
• Performance Plus regularly defragments your hard disk, removes any unnecessary files that can clog your PC, and helps make sure important security updates from Microsoft are installed efficiently and on time.
• Backup and Restore regularly copies your important files and settings to CD, DVD, or external hard disk.
• Instant Support provides online help anytime you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Easy to Use

Windows Live OneCare constantly thinks about your computer's safety and maintenance--so you don't have to. OneCare communicates the status of your PC's health in the notification area of your Windows taskbar:

	A green icon means your status is Good. Protection Plus features like antivirus and firewall are up to date, your computer is not due for a tune-up or a backup, and there are no actions to take requiring your attention. Windows Live OneCare is running in the background, monitoring your system to prevent threats like viruses or spyware.
	A yellow icon means your status is Fair. Usually this means you have an action to take, such as scheduling or running a tune-up or backup, or downloading a non-critical update. A yellow icon means there is no immediate threat to your system, but you should take care of the action as soon as you can to return your system to green.
	A red icon means that your computer is At Risk. This can happen if, for example, Windows Live OneCare is unable to update Protection Plus with the latest virus definitions because of a lost Internet connection, or if the Windows Live OneCare Firewall is turned off.

Always On and Automated

Windows Live OneCare works continuously, automatically, and quietly in the background on your PC, ever vigilant against threats but never in the way, allowing you to have fun and be more productive:

• Performance Plus is just like taking your car in for regular servicing, but with Windows Live OneCare, the service is automatic. During the tune-up, OneCare performs routine maintenance such as defragmenting your hard disk and cleaning out obsolete files to help improve your computer's performance.
• Backup and Restore makes it easy to protect your important files. You can back them up to the location of your choice: external hard disk, CDs, or DVDs. No matter which type of backup you choose, Windows Live OneCare reminds you when your files need backing up and can even back up your files automatically if you use an external hard disk drive.
• Windows Live OneCare updates itself automatically to counteract new viruses and other threats and works with Microsoft Update to help ensure that your computer is up to date with the latest critical security updates from Microsoft.

Evolves to Meet Your Needs

Windows Live OneCare provides continuous feature updates to subscribers, providing you with the latest technologies to help protect you from emerging threats. No more worrying about different versions of your antivirus software. With Windows Live OneCare, you get automatic updates and service enhancements the moment they're released.

PC Pitstop

PC Pitstop offers some pretty cool little tools to help diagnose, clean and tuneup your computer. Not only does it come with a spyware and antivirus scan, it comes with some other tools such a driver scan, full pc tune-up and more.

Very cool and best of all: free!

http://www.pcpitstop.com/

Spam.abuse.net - Fight Spam on the Internet!

You have probably seen an increase in the amount of "junk mail" which shows up in your email box, or on your favorite newsgroup. The activities of a small number of people are becoming a bigger problem for the Internet. We have been actively engaged in fighting spam for years. Since we presented this site to the public in 1996, we have been pleased to be referenced as one of the best anti-spam sites on the net. Help fight spam to keep the Internet useful for everyone. Take advantage of the information we've gathered to make your own experience on the Internet better.

Helpful information about spam and how to stop it. Also has news and updates on spam that you mgith find useful.

Spam Blockers

I came across a page on PCWord.com dedicated to listing spam blocking software... Some are free, some offer trials and some you have to buy.

It also tells you how many times the software has been downloaded. This helps you get an idea of what is the most preferred spam blocker available.

PCWorld.com Spam Blockers

I also came across another site called Advanced and free spam blockers that also lists a few spam blockers.