Slashdot Mirror


Lousy E-mail Filters Complicating Outlook Worms

Mar writes "FRISK Software founder Fridrik Skulason has issued an open letter in which he blames other anti-virus companies for much of the Sobig.F network load problems: 'If mail filters send out one message for every copy of Sobig.F received, they are in effect doubling the amount of traffic. This makes them a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.'"

5 of 461 comments (clear)

  1. iHateSpam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    If you find yourself deleting most of the e-mails in your inbox without even reading them, iHateSpam may just be the program you need. Available for users of Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, this utility is great for personal users, but may not always be appropriate for business use.

    iHateSpam takes only a few moments to install, but the setup process can be somewhat time-consuming. After installation, iHateSpam mines your Outlook contacts and any folders you choose to look for e-mail addresses you do not consider to be spam. It then creates a "friends" list so all the e-mails you do want to receive will be left untouched by the program. Conversely, iHateSpam also has an "enemies" list to which you can add unwanted e-mails that you receive and the sending addresses will be blocked by iHateSpam. You can also bounce an e-mail back to the sender, which includes a message saying that your addresses is unavailable, thus tricking the sender into deleting your e-mail address from their database.

    While all of these features seem attractive in theory, we found that the program has some drawbacks in actual use. First, the setup process becomes redundant for the person who uses Outlook for business purposes. It is extremely difficult and time-consuming to manage a friends list when you receive and send e-mails to hundreds of coworkers and associates. Further, creating an enemies list becomes a delicate process as you do not want to inadvertently have a new customer or contact be labeled as an enemy, even though you have not received e-mail from them before.

    All in all, iHateSpam would most likely work very well for someone who uses Outlook for personal e-mails only and who is merely trying to get rid of the junk so they can keep in touch with their friends and family. But for anyone who is already managing a wide database of contacts, it creates more trouble than it removes.

  2. mmm, pie by kinzillah · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I like pie. Pie is better than Outlook worms.

    --
    Douglas P. Price
  3. Brithday! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    At the moment, the earth is at approximately the same spot in it's orbit that it was the day I started using my lungs. PAR-TAY, biznaitches.

    1. Re:Brithday! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      You have a sucky birthday. I bet it really sucked two years ago.

  4. va lairIE's lousy pateNTdead PostBlock(tm) devise, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    complicating conveyance of planet/population rescue initiative information/instruction. makes /.robbIE look a little wormIE to us.

    no problem. we're hanging in there 'til the last postIE.

    we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of cowardly greed/fear based aggression everywhere.

    that old tune title (hope we don't get 'busted' for using it) "make the world go away", takes on new/varied meaning in these times.

    the prevalent notion that 'everything will be taken care of' without yOUR knowledge/participation is insidiously misleading.

    in our estimation, the biggest 'threat' against US (aside from continuing to fire bullinedly into the 'crowd', whilst demanding applause), would be a failure to recognize our 'role' in the problems. we're victims for sure, but whoare ALL the perpetrators (see also: corepirate nazi puppets), gets lost in the ?pr? ?firm? generated propaganda spew.

    consult with/trust in yOUR creator. seek others of non-aggressive behaviours/intentions. that's the spirit.

    the lights ARE coming up now. pay attention (to yOUR heart, for example). that could lead to new ways (see also: newclear power plan) of thinking about/dealing with, the needs/rights of others EVERYWHERE on the planet.

    having the attention span of a gnat, & similar ambitions, might be ok if you are just planning to be a consumer/type one liners.

    take care of each other, you're all we've got. we're here for you. get ready to see the light.--

    worth reading, again, with feeling.

    "It takes a long time to teach the judges, legislators, and public to understand technology. Right now, they're getting a strong dose of "education" on the Internet's threats and harms, and not hearing so much about its potential. Shouts of "piracy" often outweigh consideration of how we might communicate with more open media formats, but judges like Stephen Wilson in the Grokster case are starting to listen through the shouting. We're encouraging more people to think about how the law shapes technological innovation, how the technology itself can foster creativity, and then to do something about it to advance the public interest."--

    "The stability of the large world house which is ours will involve a revolution of values to accompany the scientific and freedom revolutions engulfing the earth. We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing"-oriented society to a "person"-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered. A civilization can flounder as readily in the face of moral and spiritual bankruptcy as it can through financial bankruptcy."