More on Bayesian Spam Filtering

michaeld writes "The "Bayesian" techniques for spam filtering recently publicized in Paul Graham's essay A Plan for Spam doesn't actually seem to have anything Bayesian about it, according to Gary Robinson (an expert on collaborative filtering). It is based on a non-Bayesian probabilistic approach. It works well enough, because it is frequently the case that technology doesn't have to be 100% perfect in order to do something that really needs to be done. The problem interested Robinson, and he posted his thoughts about trying to fix the problems in the Graham approach, including adding an actual Bayesian element to the calculations."

Comments

I still think passive euthanasia is the best way.

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Why is such a simple problem that pisses off 99.9% of the population is so hard to manage on a global scale? I mean, EVERYONE is pissed off at getting spammed, everyone would LOVE legislation to sodomize local spammer with a baseball bat, oversea is a different problem but country/continent-wide spam is 1/2 of my problem and can be easily be taken care of with proper legislation. For once a restrictive legislation would get 99% support... you don't see that everyday. like I mentionned before, I don't get our politicians, they say they work for us, they try to find clever ways to tax us, remove control that we used to have and all, but something on which they would get unprecedented support, they are simply sitting on the issue...

Until politicians will be fed up and people will actually get SUED for spamming (for once you could have a good reason to sue real bad guys) nothing will change.

Yes I know in SOME states it's beginning, so for local spam in a few years from now I think legislation will make it's way and we'll be able to look in our mailbox and stop having TD waterhouse spamming when you already have an account with them, etc.

The other problem now is oversea spamming, especially coming from China/Taiwan. I mean.. I don't read chineese, I don't plan on buying that #.#" something oversea, so why do they spam us like that? I never get it, but I'd be all for passive euthanasia (i.e. ban their IP at router level) and if this is bad for buisness or relations or whatever, well MAYBE they will do something about it.

Here where I work, it's simple, one spam, I ban a whole class straight off the servers, if one day I get a call because someone couldn't reach us (if they really need to reach us, we have a phone anyways!) I'll be sure to mention him Why. too bad this is not happening at the backbone level, because some people would get their act together fast and apply a legislation globally.