Free File: G-Lock SpamCombat

By Roger Chang - Posted Mar 04, 2004

Outlook and Eudora usually make you download spam before filtering it. On today's "Call for Help" I'll show you a simple and effective way to deal with unwanted email before it hits your inbox. Best of all, you won't have to add on to or replace your current client.

G-Lock SpamCombat scans and marks spam on your POP3 email server (sorry, the app doesn't work with Web-based email) so you don't waste time or drive space downloading unwanted messages. Plus, G-Lock SpamCombat uses Bayesian filtering. It actually learns what spam is by your actions.

Install and launch the file.
Click File.
Select "Add new account."
Fill in your email account information.
Click the Test button to make sure everything works.

When you run G-Lock SpamCombat for the first time, you'll see all new mail entries in the status pane to the right. As you highlight a message you can check the mail as either clear or spam using the mark buttons on the toolbar below the status pane. Look at the preview pane below the toolbar to view the contents of an email and verify whether it contains spam.

As you use G-Lock SpamCombat more and more, the app will begin making automatic decisions based on your previous behavior. If it's unsure about a message, it will say, "U:Baysian: 50," meaning SpamCombat believes the email is 50 percent good or 50 percent spam. Select the check box next to an email and click the Delete button to remove messages from the POP3 server.

Take control
On the left of its interface G-Lock SpamCombat has a checklist of actions it can take on incoming email. If at any time you don't want a process to take place, uncheck the box next to the process.

You can also customize black-and-white email lists, blocking or allowing email based on title, subject heading, or IP address. This lets SpamCombat expedite email checking by blanketing certain IPs as bad or good. Plus, save some time by choosing to automate the entire process so it runs at predetermined intervals.

When you're done, run your regular email application and start downloading your spam-free email.