Spam Filter Mechanics
Wise Choice
© Lead Image © Jakub Jirsak, 123RF.com
Spam filters have different modes of operation. Understanding how they work can help you choose which to use.
These days, the choice of spam filters comes down to Bogofilter [1] and SpamAssassin [2]. Other choices, like DSPAM [3], are no longer in development. A few other choices (e.g., SpamBayes [4]) are available, but when an email reader offers a plugin, it is almost always for either Bogofilter or SpamAssassin.
What is less often discussed is which filter is the best to use in which circumstances. Instead, most users simply nod solemnly when they read that both involve "Bayesian filtering." Most of us – including many who use the phrase – have no idea what Bayesian filtering is, but it sounds scientific and reassures us that either choice is acceptable.
In fact, learning that Bogofilter and SpamAssassin are "Bayesian" is useless for choosing between them. To call them Bayesian means nothing more than their structure is based on the 18th-century work of Thomas Bayes [5] in statistics and probability. More specifically, both apply Bayes' work by collecting words and assigning a probability that each word indicates spam. The more suspect words contained in an email, the greater the chance it is spam. However, to make an informed choice between spam filters requires considerably more detail.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.