Anti Spam Software for Desktop The dramatic increase in spam volume has prompted a corresponding surge in stand-alone anti spam software solutions for desktop, all with varying levels of effectiveness. Some anti spam software uses text filtering to screen incoming messages for known characteristics of spam, while other solutions rely solely on reputation systems that monitor and categorize email senders by IP address according to their sending behavior. Still other anti spam software uses “challenge/response filters” to block unapproved mail until sender responds (manually) to a challenge email sent to their email account to verify his or her identity.

With so many different methods of filtering spam, no single software-based desktop anti spam solution is capable of effectively stopping spam before it reaches inbox. The only way to successfully fight spam is to create an anti spam “cocktail” including reputation services, text filters, constant updates and a host of other best-of-breed spam blocking methods. Just as importantly, an effective anti spam solution should reside at email gateway, not at desktop. Without protection at gateway, mail servers waste massive amounts of bandwidth and storage space processing every message, wanted or not, and end users face unenviable task of deciding what to do with countless spam messages that successfully reach them.

Take a Consolidated Approach to Anti Spam Although it takes a person only a moment to process a message and identify it as spam, it is difficult to automate that human process because no single message characteristic consistently identifies spam. In fact, there are hundreds of different message characteristics that may indicate an email is spam, and an effective anti spam solution must be capable of employing multiple spam detection techniques.

In addition to effectively identifying spam, businesses must be assured that legitimate mail is not blocked in error. Even one false positive, or incorrectly blocked email, can have a significant impact on businesses today. Accurate spam blocking requires a combination of tools to examine various message criteria combined with real-time research and intelligence data.

By aggregating multiple spam detection technologies like text filtering, reputation services, traffic analysis and other best-of-breed techniques, and placing solution at email gateway in a hardened appliance, enterprises can retake control of inbox.

Not Just an Online Threat Evidently not satisfied with stealing bandwidth, Richter also shows a penchant for heavy equipment. In an unrelated 2003 case, he was put on probation after pleading guilty to a felony charge of receiving stolen items worth more than $10,000. According to court records, an informant's tip regarding a stolen Bobcat loader led undercover officers to Richter. Over course of 13 months, officers proceeded to strike deals with him for a Honda generator, hundreds of cases of cigarettes, three laptop computers and other items, all offered at suspiciously low prices and purchased in some of Denver’s seediest neighborhoods. In addition to probation, Richter was also ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution for stolen goods.

Despite his guilty plea, Richter maintains his innocence, saying he pleaded guilty to felony charges because it was "easier to be done with it," and he had "too much stuff going on in my life."

What’s Next for Scott Richter? The 5-year-old OptInRealBig.com, which employed 25 people last year and had 350 clients, will continue to operate under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. While bankruptcy filing shows power of legislation and legal action from parties with a vested interest in stopping spam, Richter is not likely to fade quietly into sunset. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws, company must follow a court-supervised “debt rehabilitation” plan to pay off creditors, but is not required to modify its business practices. None of OptInRealBig’s assets will be liquidated, meaning company’s stable of spam cannons will remain active. The bottom line: Scott Richter will not be required to stop sending UCE in immediate future, pending ongoing litigation intended to determine exactly what spam is in legal terms. In meantime, best defense against spam is a comprehensive gateway solution that will guard against all manner of email threats, especially spammers like Scott Richter.