Plan for Spam, Version 2

bugbear writes "I just posted a new version of the Plan for Spam Bayesian filtering algorithm. The big change is to mark tokens by context. The new version decreases spams missed by 50%, to 2.5 per 1000, even though spam has gotten harder to filter since the summer. I also talk about how spam will evolve, and what to do about it."

Comments

Spam only cost-ineffective with ISP-level filters

[PseudoThink]

Spam filters are great, but it seems that only the Net-savvy are using them. Savvy users aren't the people spammers are making all their money from--they are making money off the naive and inexperienced users. These users aren't going to go out and install the latest Bayesian filters on their system, and the major email readers won't (and probably shouldn't) come with them automatically activated.

To make spam cost-ineffective for the spammers, we've got to stop it (or flag it) before it gets to the end-user. It would obviously be a mistake to allow ISP's to automatically delete all email that fails their spam filters, but I think it would be appropriate for them to include something in the headers flagging such email as probable spam. Then future email readers could detect this header and handle it gracefully, like moving it to a "spam" folder on the user's machine. Once this happens and Grandpa no longer gets email asking him to test the latest Viagra alternative, spam may become a thing of the past.

filtering effectiveness

[qoncept]

I think I speak for everyone when I say false positives are the only real hinderance to the filtering of spam. I get roughly 20 emails a day, 75% of which are spam. If one of them slips past the filter and I see it, it doesn't bother me so much. Spam is no longer a problem. What is an absolute necessity, though, (and probably less so for me than other people) is that none of my legitimate email is filtered as spam. I'd rather have 100 spams filtered improperly than one legit email.

Re:hopeless

[Kallahar]

Yeah, 2.5 per 1000 getting through is a proof that his ideas are obviously flawed. Having a working system is the best proof that an idea works :)

Travis

Re:Why can't we have legal restrictions on spam?

[Steve B]

Because the last thing we need in this country is the government telling us how and when we can send email or make a phone call.

In certain ways, the government does and should do precisely that. If I repeatedly call you at 4 AM to ask if your refrigerator is running or deliberately send you virus-laden e-mail, then you have every right to call upon the long arm of the law to slap down the harassment.

Spamming, being a violation of the recipient's property rights, falls into that category.