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14 Dec 09 - 08:40 AM (#2787972) Subject: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean What's the best option for a downloadable spam-catcher that will work on a Mac? I have the last version of the Tiger OS (10.4.11) and use Apple Mail, and I've been perfectly happy with its junk-mail filtering until now. But recently the spammers seem to have figured out a way to bypass it, and I now keep getting loads of crap dumped directly into my Inbox. I mark it Junk, but the next day everything resurfaces in the Inbox, and now nothing ever automatically goes to the Junk folder (which has stayed completely empty). I have to manually mark each incoming message, and then do the same thing all over again the next day. The spams now seem to be immune to the bypass feature, and this has been going on for the past week. I've looked at my Mail settings but there's nothing to tinker with that I haven't already tried, and the settings are still as they have always been. I don't really want to change programmes because I like Mail. I would love to have Mailwasher but they don't seem to do one for Apple computers. A year or more ago I wrote them about this and they said they didn't offer the free version for Macs, and were even going to discontinue the pro one because it wasn't selling well enough to justify the expense of maintaining it. A google trawl took me to some Mailwasher for Mac pages, but I saw nothing relevant to my needs. I also went to the main Mailwasher site and tried downloading the current free version, but my computer doesn't recognise it (nowhere could I find any system requirements listed). So I can only gather that it still will not operate on an Apple machine. And I notice you can't email them anymore to ask things, or at least I could find no contact link. Unless I missed it, their website doesn't actually tell you that it's only for Windows. I've seen a few other spam-software things on my googleabouts, which say they're for the Mac. But I don't know anything about them, what's good, what's bad, and what's kept up to date. Can anyone recommend anything? The solution doesn't lie in getting an online account - I already have both Gmail and Yahoo ones, which are fine, but I need to keep my POP server address functional as well because I use it all the time, and far prefer it for dealing with attachments. All help very gratefully received! |
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14 Dec 09 - 10:19 AM (#2788036) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Will Fly Hi Bonnie - I use Entourage as my mail client, and it's pretty effective against spam, which goes mainly directly into the Junk folder and can be set as you wish. Some rubbish still gets into the Inbox, but the spammers do everything they can to bypass the obvious filters. I don't know whether you can get Entourage separately from MS Office. PM me for further info if you're interested. |
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14 Dec 09 - 10:42 AM (#2788052) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Amos I use Entourage and I have two rules that handle almost all spam. The first is that any mail from anyone not in my address book goes to the Junk folder. The second is that HTML formatted mail goes to the Junk folder. Once every few days, I scan throughthe Junk folder to make sure nothing important is in there and delete all its contents. I also have specific rules trashing mail from known spammers, but they would have ended up in junk anyway. There is also a product called SpamSieve which learns from experience how to filter your mail for you. A |
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14 Dec 09 - 11:12 AM (#2788076) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean Do you guys think that Entourage's spam filters would be better than Mail's? Those have worked fine for me until now, but something's happened. My guess has been that the spammers have become more clever at figuring out how to bypass filters, and mightn't that also apply to Entourage and T-Bird? Unfortunately, I have to be able to receive mail from people who are not in my address book because of the nature of the work I do, and a lot of things I need have HTML format, so I'd just be transferring my inbox problem to another folder! But thanks for the input - I can move over to Entourage if I have to. Is it fairly easy to export folders & files to it, or do you have to do them manually? I'm sure that's a horrendously naive question, but I've never moved client before. Many thanks to you both - |
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14 Dec 09 - 04:11 PM (#2788303) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Rowan My workplace recently forced all us Mac users to cease using all our stand-alone email programs and transfer to Entourage; they were changing the whole network layout to new hardware and everything had to be reconfigured. I gather those who use Mail and the other 'cloud' programs transferred relatively painlessly but Eudora users suffered a bit. The network's entry ports prevent almost all spam from getting into our intranet (huge numbers are involved, apparently) using software of which I know nothing but will probably be unix-based. The remaining spam that penetrates can be dealt with by Entourage, using the techniques described by Will, but of limited use to you, Bonnie. A question that occurs to me, though (in my inexperience) is whether something has got into your system that has altered your settings, as it seems repeatedly resetting has no effect that lasts. Although some think that turning the computer off and detaching the internet cable (both ends) and having a break of at least 10 minutes verges on the mystical, such practice seems to work, for many intranet-associated problems, around my workplace; I have no idea why. Alternatively, while it might be a bit of an effort, you could do a complete reformatting of your hard drive and reinstall from your original CD-ROMs, setting your filters before connecting your internet cable and seeing if the fault reappears. Sorry I can't be of more help. Cheers, Rowan. And have a Happy CHristmas. |
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14 Dec 09 - 04:35 PM (#2788317) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Amos If you're working stand-alone, then, I would look into SpamSieve. If you have a network with a firewall and a good sysadmin supporting you, they could knock out a lot of spoofed addresses and other spammer tricks. A |
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14 Dec 09 - 04:55 PM (#2788329) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean This is just my personal home computer, a humble Mac Book laptop (not the newest incarnation: 10.4.11) so there's no "sysadmin" except moi. I think SpamSieve is the way forward for me (re-formatting the hard drive, yikes!!). I had a look at its website earlier, and it seems quite good, particularly as it will work with both Mail and Entourage. One no doubt dumb question: Is Mail a "cloud" programme? I thought it was an ordinary POP server client, and that this was the opposite type from Cloud - ?? I don't use it as a part of any network. While everybody's here, can anyone recommend a good free-download firewall? I wanted to get ZoneAlarm but it wasn't available for Macs. Or should I just fork out, and if so, for what? Sieve costs (not much) and sounds well worth it, so I'll definitely get that, whether I stay with Mail or trek over to Entourage. Think I'm starting to see a way forward - thanks for the help, you guys - |
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14 Dec 09 - 04:55 PM (#2788330) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean Sorry, Amos - I posted my message before I saw yours.. |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:12 PM (#2788347) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G I gave up on spam filters a few years ago and use the simple trick of sending all incoming mail via googlemail and letting them do the spam filtering. I forward the mail on the server to a googlemail address and then collect the filtered mail from googlemail using pop or IMAP, Macs usually prefer IMAP. I've used this technique for quite a few people and found googlemail much more responsive to changes in spam techniques than any filters on my own system. No need to limit yourself to text only emails or receiving mail only form addresses in your addressbook. These are ancient techniques that are no longer necessary and far too restricting. Simon |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:15 PM (#2788350) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G Another advantage of the googlemail techniques is you can get them to archive every message providing you with a searchable backup of all your mail. If you connect using IMAP you can copy all your existing saved messages as well, although they do get listed with the date of copying instead of the date sent/received. You can do the same with other internet mail providers but googlemail seems the best for spam filtering Simon |
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14 Dec 09 - 05:59 PM (#2788378) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: GUEST,Tom Bliss Bonnie, What's wrong with the delete key? I don't use any Mail filtering or rules for spam (just to sort friendly incoming mail). I get lots of spam but I just click it away. It's safest and best - in case there was something you did need/want to read. You're right that the 'address book-only' option should really be avoided (some fear that it's increasing societal isolationism). I've been trying to reach some long lost friends recently. I only have their email, and I just know I'm being filtered out because I'm not already in their address book. It used to be a REAL pain when gig-hunting too. Any actually nasty spam I forward to my ISP's reporting system. Most ISPs have one. It tots up the source addresses, and then blacklists. They also blacklist anything unpleasant. You really shouldn't need a firewall on a Mac. I check with Apple every year or so, and they remain confident that the OS is robust. Yes, Macs do get viruses, but so do PC with firewalls, and far more frequently. Tom |
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14 Dec 09 - 06:28 PM (#2788392) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean Problem with the delete key is that real messages get buried in amongst the spam and are too easy to miss and then they can get clicked away as well. Also when the icon shows me I have new mail, I don't like checking my inbox only to find it's a piece of rubbish. I always take a look through the stuff in the spam trap before block-deleting, just in case of legit things landing in there (which you can then mark Not Junk). That's what works best for me anyway - I just find having to wade through a load of irrelevant headings distracting. I also resent wasting my time constantly dealing with them, so it gets emotionally tiring too. |
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14 Dec 09 - 08:42 PM (#2788464) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Amos Nothing says you have to delete anything. It's just a probability distribution. Scanning through headers in my Junk email takes a few minutes a day. And I never miss anything by accident. A |
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14 Dec 09 - 09:55 PM (#2788496) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: GUEST How much Spam do you get? 4? 44? 444? In a day? Delete - and move foreward. |
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15 Dec 09 - 02:37 AM (#2788571) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: GUEST,JTT I was going to move from Eudora to Entourage, but Entourage has a fatal flaw. I have two email accounts, one for personal mail and the other for maillist mail. In Eudora, the maillist mail one is anonymous, and doesn't lead to my personal identity. But in Entourage, no matter what I do, the maillist one comes up with my real name on every mail I send. I've quickly returned to Eudora and privacy. Bad, bad, unsafe, stalker-friendly flaw. |
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15 Dec 09 - 03:52 AM (#2788602) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: GUEST,Tom Bliss Hi Bonnie, Yes, I can see that would be an irritation. But there is an alternative: Set Mail only to check Manually, then just hit the button when you 're in a mail-reading mood. You'll get a manageable clutch of mails arriving, and you'll soon see which you want to keep and which not. After a long tour or holiday you'll get a lot, but then you would have done anyway - and you'd still need to check them all anyway. Real messages get buried in spam with your current method too - it just happens in the Junk box rather than the in box, so I can't really see the difference. But obviously what works for you works for you. Tom |
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15 Dec 09 - 04:24 AM (#2788617) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Darowyn If there is never anything in your Junk mail, I'd suspect that you have not set the Preferences in Mail to look for junk mail. With nothing other than that, my actual Inbox on the Mac stays very clear. On the PC, in the music room, Mailwasher does a great job. Cheers Dave |
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15 Dec 09 - 04:45 AM (#2788624) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Waddon Pete Just a quick word....reformatting and reinstalling on a Mac isn't the panacea that it can be on a windows based system! |
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15 Dec 09 - 05:53 AM (#2788661) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean No, my settings were - and always have been - set correctly, and have not been changed. What I said above was that now nothing goes to the junk folder, and that this has been going on for a week. Before that everything was fine. And Mailwasher doesn't work for Macs, though I agree with you that it does a great job. I used to have it in my PC. (Still do, but I don't use that computer for emails & internet anymore because of all the security issues.) |
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15 Dec 09 - 07:39 AM (#2788711) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Dave the Gnome What about Thunderbird? I use it on Windoze and Linux but I believe it is also available for Mac. You may have to 'teach' it what is and isn't spam for a week or two but it will soon get the knack:-) Cheers DeG |
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15 Dec 09 - 08:40 AM (#2788754) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean It is available for Mac, and it is certainly an option - I'm just hoping not to have to move all my files & folders etc into a new programme! I also wonder if whatever zapped Mail's junk filter wouldn't also zap T-Bird's & Entourage's. But I had it on another computer and loved it. I will probably try Spam Sieve, which looks to be a "Mailwasher" for the OSX system (though I gather that it won't work on versions earlier than Tiger). It does cost, but not much. It could also be used for Entourage & T-Bird if I do decide to go that way, so it looks like a good option in any case. Thanks so much to everybody - I can always rely on my Cat buddies to come up with intelligent & helpful input, and once again you've come through. |
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15 Dec 09 - 09:16 AM (#2788774) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G You have a mail application that does the job for you with the exception that junk mail filtering to a separate folder is not working. I don't think its time to switch applications. Better to concentrate on fixing the problem with your existing application. There is usually 2 stages to Spam filtering, firstly it gets marked as Spam, secondly get moved to the folder. Are the messages being marked as Spam, this could be something really obvious in the subject or it could be hidden in the headers. If it is being marked then try changing the setting for moving the spam to a folder, a different folder perhaps and see if this kicks it into action. It the spam isn't being marked then try changing the filter settings, set them all off, restart the mail application and then set them how you want them. We must be able to kick this back into action. My record for spam was 3,000 a day and that was every day for a few months, currently 90 a day. Tom - I wouldn't recommend connecting any computer directly to the internet without a firewall installed and switched on. Fortunately for the Mac it has a firewall and you can't switch it off and it automatically does a good job of keeping only what is absolutely necessary open to the outside world. I always recommend 2 lines of defence and connect via a router as the 2nd line. Simon |
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15 Dec 09 - 09:39 AM (#2788798) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean The only visible "spam" identification - at least that I know of - is a little rubbish bin icon to the left. The spams that come directly into the Inbox don't have this, but those that dropped straight into the Junk folder always did (and retained them even in the Deleted folder). This suggests to me that the marking is not kicking in when it should. I will try undoing and then re-doing the Junk settings as you suggest. Your idea about re-setting it to move to a different folder as a test is a good one - I'll experiment with that too, as soon as a new spam comes in. Can't believe I'm now actually waiting for one of the damn things... |
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15 Dec 09 - 11:02 AM (#2788848) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean Nope - redoing the settings didn't work. Still getting them in my inbox, unmarked. |
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15 Dec 09 - 09:12 PM (#2789319) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G On the Junk Mail page of Mail->Preferences there is a Reset button, did you try this. If you hit this you have to retrain it to spot Junk Mail. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2500 |
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16 Dec 09 - 04:37 AM (#2789469) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Bonnie Shaljean I hadn't tried that, but have done so now. Got nothing to lose! Thanks also for the Help link, which I've saved to my hard drive. Cheers, Simon - |
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16 Dec 09 - 07:59 PM (#2789987) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: EBarnacle I am a Windows user, not a Macochist, so my approach might or might not be relevant but here goes. On my Hotmail account, anything which gets into the junk box gets evaluated. If they are offering me something and do not have a working unsubscribe button, they get treated as phishing and blocked permanently. If they offer something for nothing except my personal data, they are removed as phishing. If they are something I don't want, I unsubscribe from the offer and from the company which sold them the list [You have to do both.]. Using these techniques, I have gotten my Spam to fewer than 10 pieces per day. |
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16 Dec 09 - 10:07 PM (#2790044) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G EBarnacle - no,no,no if you never subscribed in the first place, never ever unsubscribe or reply at a minimum it will confirm your email address and up its value to spammers, at worst that button may do a lot more than you think, although you are much safer in hotmail than in outlook express. For Outlook and Outlook Express users --- never every click on a button or link or image or open an attachment in a mail from a source you don't recognise or a mail from a source you recognise but it is out of character/unexpected. Simon |
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17 Dec 09 - 12:10 AM (#2790092) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: EBarnacle Sorry, Simon, I disagree strongly. I have been keeping track of the providers/spammers I have unsubscribed and have gotten very little, if any further correspondence from them. Of the 3 I have gotten more from, a simple complaint under the CAN/Spam act has been successful. As I stated above, I have been able to bring my spam down to a trickle. I also make it a point to believe my filters when they tell me something is dangerous to my computer. In the several years since beginning this set of policies, I have not become infected once. |
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17 Dec 09 - 03:25 PM (#2790616) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: Simon G Some of the spam is sent specifically to confirm your email address, of course you don't get any further email from that address, they would only use it once. But you will get more spam from other sources because they know your email address is real. |
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17 Dec 09 - 09:26 PM (#2790897) Subject: RE: Tech: Spam catchers for Macs - Help! From: EBarnacle The point, dear Simon, is in the result, and the result is the reduction in spam received. |