Options/Selections available? Options

[Wazoo]

Query brought up over in the newsgroups; a bit of the discussion provided here. Any help?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> I have a gripe about how much one is able to find out about the
> functionality of spamcop mail if one isn't a subscriber. How is a person
> supposed to make an informed decision about signing up if the only way
> they get any information about such as available blocklists is after the
> fact?
>
> Unless there's something I don't know about looking at.

Dang, sounds like something that should be in a FAQ, huh? <g>
I'll beg for some help from a subscriber or two and see if I
can add something to the Forum FAQ ...????
-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[turetzsr]

...WHAT!!?!?!?!?!? You mean someone thinks that SpamCop Email System for Individuals isn't sufficient? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) <big g>

[dra007]

I am a subscriber, but only use it to report and tag spam. Fortunately I have filters elsewhere. Sorry I cannot be of help.

[Wazoo]

List as provided by one of the newsgroup users (S. Maesslein)
10 Sep 2004

bl.spamcop.net
l1.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net
list.dsbl.org
sbl.spamhaus.org
korea.services.net
cn.rbl.cluecentral.net
nigeria.blackholes.us
argentina.blackholes.us
brazil.blackholes.us
cbl.abuseat.org
xbl.spamhaus.org
dnsbl.sorbs.net

[StevenUnderwood]

To that list, which is all of the DNSBL's currently available, I would add:

• a limited SpamAssassin configuration is available with integer setting of 1-15. I'm not sure if we have the current list of tests being checked or not.
• an email address whitelist is available
• an email address blacklist is available
• custom client side filtering is available within the webmail application only
• Tagging of all suspected spam is available for local client filtering
• Blocking all messages except whitelisted addresses is available
• Forwarding messages from the Inbox to an external address is possible
• POPping email from an external account for scanning is possible for accounts that do not allow forwarding. THis includes Yahoo, AOL, etc.

This post has been edited by StevenUnderwood: Sep 10 2004, 02:05 PM

[dbiel]

<snip>




• Tagging of all suspected spam is available for local client filtering
  <snip>

Note: Tagging can not be used with any of the blocking lists, it is an either/or choice.

I would also provide a link to the following as it could be very helpful to see how others actually use the system How I use Spam Cop, A detailed example

This post has been edited by dbiel: Sep 10 2004, 02:43 PM

[StevenUnderwood]

Note: Tagging can not be used with any of the blocking lists, it is an either/or choice.

Why do you say this? I used to (January 2003 timeframe) use this option exclusively and it (at least) did use all of the DNSBL's I had selected. This was how I evaluated SpamCop's effectiveness, by having them tag what they would stop and forward it to another address and do the filtering locally.

What do you think the system is using to place the tag in the headers? It (at least used to) uses the DNSBL's and SpamAssassin settings along with the personal whitelist and blacklist. The only thing the Tag Only switch does (did) was make everything go into the Inbox for POPping or (as I used it) automatic forwarding to another address as defined in the settings.

I am going to run a quick test for a little while and confirm or deny my statements.

[DavidT]

Wait...I think there's a misunderstanding here. I think that what dbiel really meant that if you use the Tagging Only option, that no mail would be filtered into Held Mail, but that it would all be delivered in tagged format. The blacklist selections would still be honored while doing the tagging, however.

Right, dbiel?

DT

[StevenUnderwood]

And I can confirm that already. I received my first non spamcop-bl listed message in my inbox. It is tagged with the following header:

X-SpamCop-Disposition:  Blocked dnsbl.sorbs.net 

DavidT: I hope that is what dbiel was trying to say, but I re-read it several times and could not make that jump, so that's why I posted the clarification.

[dbiel]

Actually I was refering to the filter use as to where the mail went.
Tagged mail: all mail goes to inbox - nothing to held mail
Blocking lists: "tagged" ie on list to held mail, the rest to inbox.
The effect on the headers was not taken into account.
By using personal filters (must use web mail) you could resort the mail on a more grainular method between varrious folders including the heldmail folder.

Lack of details hits all of us, especially when multiple options have multiple effects, it easy to forget to include all of them.

: I hope that is what dbiel was trying to say, but I re-read it several times and could not make that jump, so that's why I posted the clarification

Your are right about my comment not being clear enough. On rereading it myself I can see how it could be read differently

This post has been edited by dbiel: Sep 10 2004, 07:27 PM

[Wazoo]

I would also provide a link to the following as it could be very helpful to see how others actually use the system How I use Spam Cop, A detailed example

Just back from a bit of a road trip, going to start with the easy one ... That link has been there for a while <g>

The rest of it looks like I'd better wait and really go through it <g>

[dbiel]

Just back from a bit of a road trip, going to start with the easy one ... That link has been there for a while <g>

The rest of it looks like I'd better wait and really go through it <g>

Hope you had a good trip.
The reference to the link was specificly in relationship to the request about filters as PeterJ presented a very different approach to using filters rather than to the FAQ in general.
By the Way, thanks for adding it to the general FAQ.
It is a challenge to keep up with all the changes you are making to it.
Keep up the good work.

This post has been edited by dbiel: Sep 11 2004, 09:41 AM

[dralston]

Hope this is the right place to ask this. I am a longtime happy SpamCop subscriber who just renewed again, but new to the forum. My question is about *ahem* prescription drug spam. About 90% of what I consider spam that is not "held" is of this type. No surprise I am sure. I am somewhat perplexed as to how to deal with it. Currently I am trying to deal with it in my PC e-mail client using term based rules on the subject but that seems somewhat futile as they keep changing the terms. How many different ways can you spell "viagra"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I have been a little reluctant to use some of the other optional filters in SpamCop as I really don't understand exactly what each is designed to do. So I have none checked except SpamAssassin set to 5. Is there more detailed information on the various filters and suggestions for their use?

Specifically my question is whether any setting here would help with this sort of spam? Or any other suggestions? It is not a huge problem, a handful a day. And as I say it is about the only I get.

I searched the forum to see where I might find something on this or ask this question and this seemed to be about as close as I could come. If information on this does exist or I should ask it elsewhere, I would be pleased if you could direct me.

I use a PC client (Mozilla Thunderbird) 99% of the time but find the webmail component handy when at another computer.

[DavidT]

I have been a little reluctant to use some of the other optional filters in SpamCop as I really don't understand exactly what each is designed to do. So I have none checked except SpamAssassin set to 5.

I agree with your SpamAssassin setting, but I'd suggest you go ahead and activate most of the third-party filters found on the Blacklists options page. I'm using all but the following:

DSBL open relays list.dsbl.org
Argentina argentina.blackholes.us
Brazil brazil.blackholes.us
SORBS DNSbl dnsbl.sorbs.net

I can't remember why I'm not using DSBL. I'm not using the Argentina and Brazil filters due to some international communications I'm responsible for, and I think I stopped using SORBS when they listed some of my local cable ISP's servers. There are web links for each of the blacklists on the configuration page, in case you'd like to research each one, and Google is always a good way to further research them.

DT