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Human-Powered Spam Filtering

arturs writes "A company called eProvisia started an unusal business: they filter out spam not by using complicated algorithms, but human beings... It costs around $20/year - is the war against spam over?" It's an interesting idea - the privacy concerns are big of course, but how would this stack up to, say SpamAssassin or a suite like Barracuda's Spam firewall. We tested the Barracuda device - great integration of OSS software, with a nice interface. Update: 09/20 15:12 GMT by J : Corrected price of Spam Eradicator.

8 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. Party like its... by ericspinder · · Score: 4, Informative
    Our company, eProvisia LLC,
    I always worry about companies which use "LLC" as soon as the name is mentioned - 'Limited Liability Corporation'. It screams 'we are not responsable!'
    [the address] ...Palmyra Atoll (Uninhabited Sovereign Territory)
    Sounds like the 21th century equilivant of 'Florida Swamp land'.

    Four pages, home, the product, terms of service, and about the company. The only thing they are missing is bios of the 'management team'. Even better the $67 million dollars in cash reserves are in Palmyra Atoll dollars; I wonder what the exchange rate is?

    Overall, it looks like someone stole a 'dot com' idea from 1999. Anyone have a little red Corvette?

    I'll stick with Spamassassin, Thunderbird.

    --
    The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
  2. Re:How about wiki spam by troon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Already baked: it's called Vipul's Razor.

    --
    Ydco co ,df C erb-y go. a Ekrpat t.fxrapev
  3. this has to be a joke by unformed · · Score: 4, Informative


    Palmyra Atoll is a thousand miles south of Hawaii, an untold distance from civilization. Uninhabited by humans and wild to the core, it is the last intact marine wilderness in the U.S. tropics.

  4. Re:Buzzword Bingo by Chris_Jefferson · · Score: 5, Informative
    What is more impressive is:

    Conveniently located in the heart of Palmyra Atoll, eProvisia LLC is the leading provider of reliable, robust, powerful and cost-efficient spam filtering solutions for world-class corporations and individual users.

    Privately funded in 1993, now with customers in 40 countries* and over $67 million** in cash reserves, ....

    * - Not all currently recognized by UN. ** - Palmyra Atoll dollars.

    Palmyra Atoll is uninhabited, and doesn't have a currency. The phone number is invalid (nowhere has a +78 extension), and what kind of place lists in its address "Islet 7, 5 52 N 162 06 W"?

    I wouldn't have bothered posting this except it seems like both slashdot and most of the people reading this seem to be taking it seriously. It's not.

    --
    Combination - fun iPhone puzzling
  5. There's a dupe site by Colonel+Cholling · · Score: 4, Informative

    at eprovisia.coredump.cx.

    This site is a joke, and no more represents an actual business than that other famous site with a .cx domain.

    --

    I am Sartre of the Borg. Existence is futile.
  6. Slashdot has been trolled, kthanxbye by brickbat · · Score: 4, Informative

    This company can't possibly be real.

    Anybody read their terms of service? You understand that there are no guarantees, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, confidentiality or availability of the service. eProvisia LCC may choose to share any information acquired in the course of providing its services with other entities, and may, at its sole discretion and based on this information, take whichever actions the company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or representatives, consider to be appropriate. You henceforth void your reasonable expectation of privacy, and your constitutional rights to a fair and speedy trial.

    And their contact information. Um, Palmyra Atoll is an uninhabited pile of sand in the Pacific Ocean. "Palmyra Atoll dollars?" BWAHAHAHA.

    Leveraging our paradigm-shifting product line with state of the art technology developed by a dedicated team of professionals, we offer a significant competitive advantage on the diversified but fragmented market of best of breed anti-spam solutions. That line sounds like it was generated with the Web Economy Bullshit Generator.

    Thanks for the laugh, Hemos. No, I'm laughing at you, not with you.

  7. Re:Buzzword Bingo by sh0rtie · · Score: 5, Informative


    Funny i know, but actually such an app actually exists
    Deloitte & Touche's Bullfighter

    BullfighterTM is software that runs in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, within Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP. It works a lot like the spelling and grammar checker in those applications, but focuses on jargon and readability.

  8. Re:Buzzword Bingo by lofoforabr · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just look at the Terms of Service in their page. This must have been put under the wrong slashdot section. It's more suited for the "It's funny. Laugh".

    Terms of Service and Legal Disclaimer

    By viewing pages or using products and services of eProvisia LCC, you acknowledge and consent to the following terms and conditions:

    (1) Warranties and waivers. You understand that there are no guarantees, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, confidentiality or availability of the service. eProvisia LCC may choose to share any information acquired in the course of providing its services with other entities, and may, at its sole discretion and based on this information, take whichever actions the company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or representatives, consider to be appropriate. You henceforth void your reasonable expectation of privacy, and your constitutional rights to a fair and speedy trial.

    (2) Indemnification. You agree to hold harmless and indemnify eProvisia LCC and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and representatives, from and against any legal claims, including liability for the company not adhering to the terms and conditions of this agreement.

    (3) Choice of Law and Jurisdiction. These Terms of Use will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Uninhabited Sovereign Territory of Palmyra Atoll, without giving effect to its conflict of laws and provisions of your actual state or country of residence. Any claims, legal proceedings, or litigations regarding eProvisia LCC and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and representatives, will be brought solely in and you consent to the jurisdiction of Palmyra Atoll courts.