A Novel Approach to Spam Detection
Here is a twist on the reputation and Bayesian filter techniques usually employed in spam detection: profile the recipient. That's the approach taken by Abaca, a Silicon Valley email filtering company started by Steven T. Kirsch. The New York Times described it this way:
The approach underlying the Abaca technique is the recognition that the ratio of spam to legitimate e-mail is individually unique. It is also a singular identifier that a spammer cannot manipulate easily. By assessing the combined reputations of the recipients of any individual message, the Abaca system determines the “spaminess” of a particular message. Mr. Kirsch asserts this provides a high degree of accuracy in deciding whether the message is spam.
I've long given up the idea that there is a Holy Grail of anti-spam tools out there and we just need to find it. I'm more convinced than ever that multi-layered defenses with multiple approaches are the way to go. This technique is just one more welcome addition to tool chest.
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