Feature Comparison for Server-Based Anti-Spam Solutions

Our anti-spam feature comparison uses a highly relevant scoring system to find products that best match your preferences. Hover over the features in the list below to get a detailed description and then assign a weight to each feature from the drop-down lists according to how desirable you find that feature.

If you are unsure of the features you prefer and simply wish to find products that offer the most features, just click here or else scroll to the bottom of this page and click 'Submit' without assigning any weights.

Bayesian Filter Bayesian filters are adaptive and become more efficient at correctly identifying spam by keeping the filters trained. Training requires one to feed the filter with known spam and known ham (valid emails) so that it learns the characteristics of both types of email.
Trained by Administrator The administrator feeds the filter with known spam and known ham (valid emails) so that it learns the characteristics of both types of email. Requires the administrator to accurately determine what emails are spam and what emails aren't spam before training the Bayesian filter.
Trained by Users The users feed the filter with known spam and known ham (valid emails) so that it learns the characteristics of both types of email. Requires the users to accurately determine what emails are spam and what emails aren't spam before training the Bayesian filter.
Keyword Filter Keyword filters attempt to identify spam by searching for specific words within emails. i.e. words that are frequently found in spam but not in ham (valid emails).
Pre-Defined Keyword List A Pre-Defined Keyword List is compiled by the vendor of the antispam solution and supplied to its customers.
Customizable Keyword List A Customizable Keyword List allows administrators to add and remove keywords from the list for improved accuracy.
Boolean Logic Boolean Logic allows your keyword list to include boolean operators such as AND, OR, NOR, NOT etc, thereby improving the accuracy of the Keyword Filter. For example: Classify email as spam if and only if the keywords "lowest" AND "mortgage" are found.
BlackList Filter Blacklist filters attempt to reduce spam by blocking all emails from a sender or group of senders that you, your organization or the public has determined to be spammers.
Block specific IP Addresses Permits blocking of all emails received from a specific IP address.
Block specific Server Permits blocking of all emails received from a specific mail server.
Block email addresses Permits blocking of all emails received from a specific email address.
Public Blacklist support Uses a blacklist/s compiled by the antispam community to block spam.
WhiteList Filter Whitelist filters attempt to reduce false positives by allowing all emails from a sender or group of senders that you or your organization has determined to be a non-spammer.
Allow specific IP addresses Permits delivery of all emails received from a specific IP address.
Allow specific server Permits delivery of all emails received from a specific mail server.
Allow email addresses Permits delivery of all emails received from a specific email address.
Content/Category Filter Filters that classify and identify spam based on content. For example, messages may be categorized as "Sexually Explicit", "Get Rich Quick Schemes" etc., while also allowing individual spam threshold or sensitivity settings to be applied to each category.
Pre-Set Categories Pre-Set Categories are defined by the vendor of the antispam solution.
User Defined Categories Allows an organization to define categories based on message content that may be unique to that organization's incoming email.
Signature Filter Signature Filters identify spam based on the specific attributes of known spam messages and block any new messages that have attributes that are identical to known spam messages.
Auto-Updates Automatically downloads new signatures periodically from the antispam vendor to successfully identify the latest spam messages.
Header Analysis Filter An email's header contains a complete list of the path traveled by the email along various machines on the Internet before reaching its destination. Header analysis is used to determine whether the header has been tampered with, which is evidence that the message may be spam.
Character Set Filter Permits blocking of all emails that use a specified character set or sets. Particularly useful in blocking some, but not all, foreign language spam.
Challenge/Response Authentication An authentication method used in which an unrecognized sender is prompted to provide unique information. The message will be delivered to the recipient only if the information provided is accurate.
Quarantine Area An area in which suspicious messages are stored until they are reviewed by the recipient or administrator to determine what further action will be taken.
Accessible to Users Recipients may review messages which are stored in the quarantine.
Message Handling The solution is able to perform one or more tasks once a message is identified as spam.
Bounce "Error" Message Sends a fake "error" message to the sender of a spam message, thereby leading the spammer to believe that the recipient's email address is invalid. This is used to encourage the removal of the address from the spammer's mailing list to prevent further such messages from being sent.
Delete Messages The solution immediately deletes any messages identified as spam.
Rules A set of criteria that determines whether or not a message is spam.
Rule Creation Customization Allows the administrator to define the criteria that will determine whether or not a message is spam.
Pre-defined rules The solution is shipped with a set of rules that are defined by the vendor.
Multiple Rule Selection Allows the administrator to select multiple rules for enhanced effectiveness in determining whether or not a message is spam.
Sensitivity Settings Sensitivity settings allow the administrator to adjust the aggressiveness of the filtering performed so that an acceptable balance between the number false-positives and the number of false-negatives may be found.
User Defined Allows the administrator to define the criteria that will determine the aggressiveness of the filtering performed.
Individual User Profiles The solution offers personalized filtering performance and configurations for each user within the organization.
Group Profiles The solution offers distinct filtering performance and configurations for each group within the organization.
Reporting Capabilities Solution provides reports and statistics on email activity.
Open Relay Protection Prevents spammers from using your organization's mail server to deliver spam messages to a destination outside the network.
Anti Spoofing Spoofing is the practice of forging a return email address. Anti-spoofing is used to reject messages that have been sent from outside the network yet claim to have been sent by someone from within the network.
HTML Stripping Spam messages that are sent in HTML format may contain hidden code that enables the sender to verify the validity of the recipient's address once the message is opened. HTML stripping prevents such verification by delivering the email in plain text.
Supported Environments Many solutions may be deployed within a variety of different email/messaging environments but not necessarily within all environments. Your existing environment and the possibility of upgrading or migrating to a new environment are factors to consider when choosing a solution.
Domino 6.x Domino 6.x supported.
Domino 5.x Domino 5.x supported.
Domino 4.x Domino 4.x supported.
Exchange 2003 Exchange 2003 supported.
Exchange 2000 Exchange 2000 supported.
Exchange 5.5 Exchange 5.5 supported.
GroupWise 6.x GroupWise 6.x supported.
GroupWise 5.x GroupWise 5.x supported.
IMAP IMAP supported.
SMTP/POP3 SMTP/POP3 supported.
*nix Supports one or more flavors of Unix and/or Linux.

Server-based anti-spam software feature comparison