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Best Free Spam Filter for the Average User
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In a Hurry?
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 Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide |
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Introduction
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The aim of a spam filter is the reduction of the appearance of junk and spam emails. This makes the inbox cleaner, and thus it is easier to check email. The productivity time savings with the addition of spam filters is significant. While many spam filter products are readily available, frankly, either most free spam filters are either much too complex to set up and use, or in fact, the better products in this class are not free. That said, I review some free options here that are good and suitable for average users. Or if you find no joy with any of these, or seek advanced features for your cup of tea, have a look at software mentioned in our Best Free Spam Filter for Experienced Users: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-spam-filter-for-experienced-users.htm
NOTE: Comments section of this category is for brief feedback and input. For more detailed discussions, please submit those comments in the Forums section: http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/ NOTE: WOT - Web of Trust (www.mywot.com) is the world's leading community-based, safe surfing tool that helps web users be safe in activities such as search, surf and shopping online. NOTE: Email spam pertains to unsolicited commercial messages sent in bulk by people you don't know. Messages sent in bulk are sent 200 times or more each day. These messages are typically sent by people such as those in marketing, advertising, really any one with a direct monetary gain to be had by sending spam. |
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Discussion
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At the Mailwasher site you can download a free or commercial Pro version. The former lacks quite a few of the features of its commercial cousin, the most limiting of which is the ability to access multiple accounts. However, the last free version of MailWasher (before it became a commercial product) is still floating around the web, and it will handle multiple accounts. It also lacks many of the advanced spam-detection features of the current commercial version, but is still very effective. |
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Alternatively, try xTerminator, which works in much the same way as MailWasher, and is totally free. I must say, though, that I prefer MailWasher's user interface. It uses a built-in Challenge-Response System allows you to send people a question that, if correctly answered, will provide them with a password. In the future, their messages will not be deleted again or can be automatically added to a Friendly Content list. Further, this program is no longer supported by the developer, but the program can be downloaded from other web sites. |
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Like all network-based spam filters, it requires no training; it's ready to go the minute you install it. Each email is checked after retrieval. If the email has been classified as spam by a lot of other users on the network, then it's deleted from your in-box and placed in a spam mail folder. It works like a charm and is a commanding choice for Outlook users. If you can't tolerate the ads in your email, you can have them removed for $29.00 for one year. |
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Related Products and Links
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You might want to check out these articles too: |
The last free version of MailWasher (before it became commercial) able to handle multiple accounts is available for download here. (Version 1.33, Size: 1.56 MB).
Can be used from USB key or memory card.
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Editor
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| This software category is maintained by volunteer editor wesman. |
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Tags
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mail filter, spam mail filter, free spam filter, free spam filter program, freeware, spam blocker, spam definition |
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Comments
How do the spamfighter recommended program compare to my outlook anti spam from microsoft update and install?
My vote goes to Mailwasher.
Good and informative review!
I agree with what is listed as meaning of email spam in NOTE.
My company uses spam software, and I find it good overall. But on more than occassion, messages that should not be considered spam are in the spam folder.
Is there anything that detects only spam?
At this time, it is hard to find a spam software that will detect 100% spam. Of course, that is not to say there are not any that come close. But by and by, some messages may slip to the other side of the inbox, and some that should not be on the other side. The day of the spam software of 100% detection remains to be seen.
Cheerio!
How is xTerminator free? It looks like a trial to me.
Link to freeware version.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/E-mail/Anti-Spam-Tools/xTerminator...
I've changed the link above to reflect this. Thanks for pointing it out.
What is spam?
There are different types of spam - search engine, email etc.
As it relates to email spam, there is a consensus that spam of this nature is the following:
Email spam pertains to unsolicited commercial messages sent in bulk by people you don't know; typically these messages are sent by those in marketing, advertising, any one with a monetary gain to be had by sending spam.
I had thought spam is a widely known term, but maybe not. I will make note of it in this category.
Cheerio!
After reading the comment, I agree. There is definitely what spam is. Not email that are job inquiries.
I agree too. I remember that when I was searching for work, once I found out that my email never was even seen, cause it got routed to their "Spam" folder.
EMAIL LOOKING FOR WORK IS NOT SPAM!!!!
I tried Spamfighter and like it a lot. Until I noticed the footer on messages. But ya know, its OK. Who cares if someone knows you're protected by Spamfighter?
There are some that find the addition of the footer to be distracting. But you've made a valid point. After all, all in all, the footer is a small price to pay.
Cheerio!
What is WOT?
WOT is short for Web of Trust.
A browser addon that has ratings for websites.
It can be useful in avoiding dangerous sites.
More info here:
https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-internet-safety-check.htm?...
I have tried Mailwasher and find it quite good. I agree with the reviewer.
Well, it is jolly good that you found your cup of tea!
Cheerio!
I think I know what Paul from Jacobs means. I run a business, and I many resumes. A couple of times resumes got identified as spam! Not good for my business!
I haven't tried these, but they look promising! Nice finds!
going to try out mailwasher
The thing about these filters is that sometimes things get filtered as spam, but it isn't! In my experience anyways...
Which of the mentioned filters caused your experience?
Cheerio!
Hi everyone,
I have been using Mailwasher 2.0.28 beta for years and did not have any problem with it
It manages multiple accounts (I have 8 of them on 4 different suppliers) even web mail like yahoo, but I did not succeed in accessing my Gmail account.
Sometimes (once every 3 months or so) it suddenly freezes, I just terminate it thru task manager and restart it from my quick launch bar, and this is it, no data is lost.
I suppose I'm a bit late here, but i'd like to answer to Denis ("If you use a free web mail account like hotmail or yahoo mail you cannot use them with an email client such as outlook or thunderbird").
Denis, you have been mistaken, my Outlook (2002) is capable or managing yahoo mail and Gmail (hotmail also I think), incoming and outgoing (you send your mail in Outlook using your Gmail account) BUT for this to work you have to change the settings in the web mail account. there you will find the needed settings for Outlook/Outlook express/etc.
hope this helps
I have used MailWasher Free for many months, its great whilst it works. I find that I am just getting a good lot of statistic when it stops functioning. When I re-install the program the statistic have all reverted to zero and I start to await the next "forced to " re-install. Any similar experiences? Any recommendations for a similar program that will continue to perform?
Give SpamFighter a try. See if it is your cup of tea.
Cheerio!
I had used free Mailwasher for years, accepting that it crashing and burned for various reasons. I've finally found a great free solution PopPeeper. A funky name but it works great www.poppeeper.com. So good, I was happy to donate to the cause.
I think I have tried so many anti-spam software to literally become dizzy. But finally, I settled on this one as it has proved to be solid and reliable. I always run it before running my main email client and so only the good stuff is downloaded. No more waste of time downloading junk. This freeware lets me conveniantly delete spam emails ON THE SERVER and so nothing is downloaded to my mail client without a first "pass" with Junkanoo. You can configure multiple accounts including gMail accounts. Works like a charm!
JUNKANOO
http://www.kidmoses.com/junkanoo/index.html
This software has not been rated by WOT.
You mention that it deletes email on the server as well. Though that is admirable, a word of caution, whilst many anti-spam software have evolved quite a bit compared to their first appearance, very few have been able to achieve a 100% detection accuracy.
Cheerio!
spamfighter now works with thunderbird.works great!
I just use www.inbox.com, which uses a slick white/black list. I go online and check my "Pending" or "Unverfied" folder every few days for safeties safety's sake. The nice thing is that when I use their SMTP server and send thought it, all my contacts are then automatically whitelisted. So in the intial stages if you want to whitelist everyone real quite then just send everyone a quick note with your new email address. Bingo, they are all in. Then you only need to check your Pending foler periodically. So far, fingers crossed, it has been 3 years and I haven't seen a single spam get through. Inbox is free, as well as offereing 2GB of free online storage to the world and 5GB storage to residents of North America.
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