SPAM KILLER

I think I’ve found the best spam killer. Well, actually there are two. You can buy the very same software that Hotmail and Yahoo use to automatically weed out spam, putting it all in a Bulk folder. One click on “empty” and they’re history. The software program is called Brightmail Anti-Spam 5.1. Microsoft will be happy to license it to you for only $1,499.00

So I think we should talk about the other one: MailFrontier Desktop 4.1. It sells for 29.95.

First, let’s compare it to its famous competitor, Norton AntiSpam 2004, a really great product. It catches more junk mail than any competing product in the low price range – more than 90%, according to some tests. As with most Norton products, it’s user friendly. Easy to set up. Plenty of tools for customizing filters. As with most of its competitors, Norton AntiSpam easily builds whitelists and blacklists. There’s plenty more.

Why not buy it? In my opinion it’s a good choice. However… as with all products, Norton AntiSpam has a few shortcomings.

Many users report crashes, delays, permanent loss of mail while installing, and other similar problems. Furthermore, like other Norton products, AntiSpam is a resource hog, even if you have a fast processor and plenty of memory like I do.

Indeed, many developers find Norton products, especially Norton AntiVirus, to slow their computers to a crawl when they use development tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003. I have that problem.

MailFrontier Desktop 4.1, by comparison, has all the strengths of Norton AntiSpam, and uses far fewer resources. Moreover, if you’re developing software, are using Excel or an accounting program, or developing web sites, you’re far less likely to suffer from crashes, installation problems, or conflicts with other programs.
Moreover, MailFrontier uses more advanced techniques for intercepting spam, and is as equally user friendly. You may read the details (and buy it) at www.mailfrontier.com. Click on “For the Desktop.”

After you download and install the application, you can register it and receive preliminary instructions in the initial screen. There are detailed instructions in the help file.

The second screen asks your permission to create a preliminary whitelist – a list of your regular contacts whose emails will never be placed in the spam folder.

MailFrontier places a configuration icon in the taskbar, and a toolbar in Outlook or Outlook Express.

All your spam will henceforth be placed in a “Junk” folder, which you can empty with one click – just like the $1500 special from Brightmail. We’re all plagued with spam infestation. MailFrontier Desktop 4.1 is the best cure at the best price that I have found.

Dennis Turner