[NTLUG:Discuss] Stupid spam question

[Cameron, Thomas]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces at ntlug.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at ntlug.org]On
> Behalf Of Wayne Dahl
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 9:54 AM
> To: NTLUG
> Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] Stupid spam question

<snip>

> What's the point of that?  Is it supposed to confuse programs like
> Spamassassin?  

Yes.  Most spam filters look for key words or patterns (like ALL CAPS or multiple exclamation points or spelling variations on various medications).  If you bury the actual spam content in a whole bunch of other text, the spam checker can be fooled into thinking that the message is not about the spam topic.

> Will Spamassassin have any problems dealing with that
> type of message?

Short answer:  yes.  Long answer:  I use the Bayes learning feature in SA 2.6.1 and I get maybe one or two spams a day that get through as opposed to the 200-300 a day that get caught (I've had the same e-mail address since 1996 so it's apparently on every spam list in the Universe).

I'm comfortable with that ratio.  ;-)

--
Thomas Cameron, RHCE, CNE, MCSE, MCT
Assistant Vice President
Linux Design and Engineering
Bank of America
(972) 997-9641

The opinions expressed in this message are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, Bank of America.