Over the past two to three months, the level of spam being sent globally has increased by more than 50%. Spammers are also using new techniques to get around traditional spam filtering. They are now using images that are distorted to get around text filters and simple Optical Character Recognition(OCR) programs. Spammers are also using legitimate servers to bounce spam messages to their intended recipients to get around traditional IP blocking lists (as well as using personal computers around the world that have been compromised, known as “zombie computers”, to send spam directly).

LexiConn has been hard at work testing and optimizing a new advanced OCR filtering system to catch these latest spams. It uses a 4 pass OCR filter to extract the text from the images, and then runs this text against spam word lists to determine if the image embedded in the email is spam. Additionally, the spam software has been upgraded to the latest version and rules to keep up with the changing face of spam.

All shared servers have been upgraded to use this new spam system. Managed dedicated server owners should contact us to have their server upgraded to the latest version.

Along with spam protection, LexiConn also employs an active virus protection system that is updated each hour with the latest virus definitions. Each week new spam rules are put in place as new methods and types of spam emerge. Network wide LexiConn uses one global black list, spamhaus.org, which is responsible for blocking over 2 million spam emails daily before even reaching any of the LexiConn servers. This blacklist is very conservative, and only blocks the most egregious spammers.

Spam and Virus protection may be added to any shared hosting account for only $5 per month, and can cover every POP box on the account (It only filters locally delivered email, not email forwarded to offsite addresses such as yahoo or aol). The system is easy to use, and allows you to decide how conservative or aggressive you want the filtering to be. You can setup white lists and black lists to allow and block certain addresses.

The system works by assigning small point values to each email based on a few thousand rules it runs, checking realtime black lists, and even utilizing a Bayesian learning system that actively learns from the spam and good email you receive. If the point total exceeds your defined level (5 to 9 typically), it labels the email as spam. You then have the option of simply putting special text in the subject (i.e. **SPAM**) or deleting the spam before it is delivered to your POP box.

If you would like to add spam and virus protection to your account, simply fill out the request form at:
https://lexiconn.com/lexiconn/secure/add_spam.html

:: Software packages utilized for spam and virus protection
http://www.spamassassin.org – heavily customized spam protection
http://www.clamav.net – anti-virus protection
gocr, ocrad, netpbm, gifsicle, FuzzyOCR – OCR software

- LexiConn Support