WHICH? Magazine PRE-PUBLICATION CHECK: Anti-virus software
Dear Marketing and PR teams RE: WHICH? Magazine PRE-PUBLICATION CHECK: Anti-virus software I am sending you a set of checking sheets for Which? Magazine. We are now checking information for a report on anti-virus software scheduled for publication in a forthcoming issue of Which? The reason we are checking this information is because we are considering including your organisation in the final report. Please bear in mind that this is still subject to editing, verification and final analysis, and therefore the content may change prior to publication. At this stage we also cannot guarantee that your company will definitely be included in the finished article. We would be very grateful if you would check the enclosed details. We would like you to tick all the sections you agree with (where indicated) and amend any sections that are incorrect or incomplete. It would also be helpful if you would complete, sign and return this information to us no later than Tuesday 4 January 2005. Whilst it is better for you to send us your comments and queries in writing, if necessary, since time is limited you may fax your reply through on 020 7770 7655. In the meantime, if you have any problems meeting this date, or have any other queries, please do not hesitate to ring me on 020 7770 7683. Thank you for your help with this report. Cecilia De Souza Verifier Which? Magazine 2 Marylebone Road London NW1 4DF Phone: 020 7770 7683 Fax: 020 7770 7655 Http://www.which.net <Http://www.which.net> <<Spambayes spam results.xls>> CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE This communication contains information which is confidential and may also be privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient please note that any distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information in it is strictly prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please notify us by e-mail or by telephone (020 7770 7000) and then delete the e-mail and any copies of it.
Hello Cecilia, Thanks for your email to spambayes@python.org regarding SpamBayes.
Dear Marketing and PR teams
Spambayes is an Open Source project, developed by volunteers. It has no marketing or PR teams. (I'm one of the developers.) Being Open Source, you are free to use it, distribute it, review it, comment on it, modify it, and do pretty much anything with it apart from claiming ownership of it or suing its developers. The licensing terms are here: http://cvs.sourceforge.net/viewcvs.py/*checkout*/spambayes/spambayes/LICENSE...
RE: WHICH? Magazine PRE-PUBLICATION CHECK: Anti-virus software
SpamBayes is an anti-spam tool, not an anti-virus tool. It is of some use defending against email-bourne viri, but it's not designed as an anti-virus tool.
I am sending you a set of checking sheets for Which? Magazine.
These are in an Excel file, which I don't want to open precisely because of the possibility of viruses... Could you send a plain-text version?
It would also be helpful if you would complete, sign and return this information to us no later than Tuesday 4 January 2005.
Because SpamBayes is developed by volunteers, who are distributed around the world, it has no central management and all communication is electronic. If it's vitally important that you have a signature, I can sign on behalf of the development team (if no-one has any objections) but we prefer to work over email. As I explained above, that shouldn't present any problems. Thanks for your interest, -- Richie Hindle richie@entrian.com
I don't recollect seeing the published report mentioned, so while in the library today I checked the archives of "Computing Which?" magazine. In the January 2005 edition they test free firewalls, virus and spam filters, including Spambayes. Unfortunately you have to look quite carefully to find Spambayes because it is called "Outlook addin" (sic) throughout. Spambayes is shown as POP3 capable, but "POP3 support is with MS Outlook only". The summary says ".... and Outlook addin, on the other hand, showed very little ability to inprove spam detection with experience" (!) However -- "Ideally a spam filter should automatically update (to get new lists of known spam and spam characteristics), clean your existing email upon installation, classify existing emails (as `spam' or `not spam' rather than `maybe spam') and integrate well with your chosen email program." I do wonder what they thought they were testing, and whether they'd bothered to read any of the documentation? Probably not, because their target market is the more clue-resistant sector of the public. And after skimming through the rest of the magazine I'd put Computing Which? at the more clue-resistant end of the publishing spectrum too. Mike -- Mike Causer Email - mailto:mikec@mikecauser.com GPG KeyID 1C2DDA07 WWW - http://www.mikecauser.com Flood the fen again! - Wicken Fen enlargement - http://www.wicken.org.uk
participants (3)
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Cecilia de Souza -
Mike Causer -
Richie Hindle