I generally care software with an attitude — they see their mission , and their makeup and design make no off-white about the way they intend to accomplish it . I ’m not , however , beguile of attitudinal applications that are unmanageable to configure and confusing to navigate . alas , that jolly well sums up SpamX 3.0.2 .
More than any other spam utility I ’ve examine , SpamX focuses on combating spammer by offering extensive reporting options . The program can take out what it thinks is the originating address of the spam and account it to the arise ISP ’s abuse address . Regrettably , it ’s hard to tell how good this is in either catch existing junk e-mail or preventing unexampled spam . When I reported several XII junk e-mail messages , I received at least a dozen confirmation and undeliverable chain armor messages , which just added to my inbox clutter .
While you ’re not perfectly required to have a degree in computer science to use SpamX , it certainly would n’t hurt . This Java - based program is configure through a individual windowpane that incorporates eight bill of fare ( much like Windows diligence ) . choice include in this window , such asClass B MatchandSource Consistency , will bedevil a good deal of people , and the program ’s Help menu is n’t very helpful — call forth it necessitate you to the SpamX entanglement land site , which offers the barest instructions on how to set up the programme .
SpamX can allegedly either act as a proxy server or deal with your POP host as an tocopherol - post node would . unfortunately , the proxy server frame-up does n’t work with Apple ’s Mail ( ) or Microsoft Entourage 2004 ( ) . If either of those is your mail client of choice , you ’d use SpamX ’s scheduling feature to download just your junk e-mail , order it , delete it from the waiter , and then use your unconstipated e - post customer to retrieve your good due east - post . SpamX does n’t stick out IMAP account .
SpamX ’s mode of process is something of an knowing whodunit . The program ’s developer does n’t wish to reveal how SpamX goes about its business , on the hypothesis that doing so would help oneself spammers defeat the computer program ’s protection . The developer does say that SpamX does n’t practice statistical encyclopedism filters and does n’t include rigorous blacklists , though it does allow you to block particular addresses ( if someone you have intercourse is gravel you , for example ) . And the programme will confer with real - metre opprobrious hole lists ( collections of IP address of known spammers ) . you may also import and sum up contacts to a whitelist .
Macworld’s buying advice
While I look up to JLS / JLSDevelopment ’s desire to pull the plug on spammer via the political program ’s reporting features , and am print by the political program ’s spam - catching prowess , SpamX 3.0.2 is far more difficult and unpleasant to use than any junk e-mail public utility company should be . A good manual ( one that say you to not nettle setting up a proxy for Mail or Entourage , for illustration ) and a decent port would go a tenacious means towards making SpamX an acceptable option for Mac exploiter .
[ Christopher Breen is a elderly editor program atMacworld . ]
