On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 11:00:13 -0000, Neil Smith wrote:
> As a dial-up user with a large phone bill, if I were to receive *lots* of
> spam, wouldn't I have to pay to download the messages, and again to send a
> reply? Is there any way to set up the spam filter to delete files from the
> server rather than download em first? Can do this in m$ outlook so it's
> obviously possible, but that's by keying on the 'from' name, which IMHO
> tends to hop around as spam accounts get closed down.
Hello Neil:
You do not have to pay to download the messages if you have an email
account with a mail server running IMAP protocol and you are using an
IMAP compatible email client such as PC-PINE for DOS. (AFAIK, PC-PINE
for DOS is the *only* IMAP-compatible email client available for use with
DOS) You should never send a reply to any spam message, even if you want
to merely request being removed from the spammer's mailing list. The
problem with replying to spammers has been discussed very recently on the
list under a different topic.
When using IMAP protocol only certain headers are initially downloaded
from the server, not entire messages. You will see the messages listed
indicating the date, the sender, and the subject. If you want to download
a message, then you just move your cursor to select the message to
download. Also you may mark a message to be deleted from the server. You
don't even have to download it you think it is just a spam message or a
message from somebody you don't want to hear from, or a message dealing
with a topic in which you have no interest.
You can sign up for a free email account running IMAP protocol at
http://www.subdimension.com. You can download PC-PINE for DOS, freeware,
available from http://www.washington.edu/pine. Version 3.91 for DOS is
not as memory-hungry as version 3.96. Most DOS users, including myself,
are much happier with the earlier version, v. 3.91.
Subdimension also runs POP3 protocol. It works also with Arachne or any
other POP3 mail client. If you use a POP3 client you will have to download
entire messages every time you access the mail server. If you use an IMAP
client such as PC-PINE for DOS, then only the aforementioned message headers
are initially downloaded. If you anticipate lots of spam or other unwanted
messages, then IMAP is the way to go.
It would be very nice if Arachne's InSight mailer were IMAP compatible.
All the best,
Sam Heywood
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