Can't read Kanji? Sick of Slovenian spam? Mailwasher lets you automatically filter and bounce email messages based on the character set they're written in.
Mailwasher is an email "preprocessor" that I've written about before. It's a tool that I find indispensable in helping to manage the torrents of email I receive, and it's especially useful for eliminating spam.
This tip is for Mailwasher users -- if you don't currently use the program, check out the profile I wrote about it (link below) and consider giving it a try.
After you've used Mailwasher for a while, it builds up your own personal blacklist for spammers, automatically bouncing email from known spammers who've previously sent you unwanted mail. A little known feature also allows you to preemptively filter out messages written in languages you don't read or understand -- virtually all of which are spam anyway.
Here's how to do it: When Mailwasher displays the headers of a language you don't recognize and want to block, double-click on the "subject" heading in the Mailwasher panel. The message is displayed, along with a box to "display the full header and message source."
Check this box. Somewhere in the header you'll see the word 'charset' followed by an equals sign and either the name of a language or a character code set. Highlight and copy the full 'charset="whatever"' text, and close the message.
Next, using Mailwasher's "Tools" menu, select "Options." Click on the "Filters" tab, then click "Add."
Using the first "Rules" drop down box, select "The Entire Header" and paste the 'charset="whatever"' text into the text box (don't change the "contains" rule). Then, depending on how annoyed you are with spam in that language, tick the boxes to "add to blacklist," "mark for deletion," or "mark for bounce." Click "OK" to save the filter.
That's all there is to it, allowing you to bid hasta la vista to all that spam that's just Greek (or whatever) to you.
Mailwasher
http://www.mailwasher.net/
Nuke That Spam!
SearchDay, Apr. 3, 2002
http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/02/sd0403-mailwasher.html
Mailwasher is a simple yet elegant email "preprocessor" that helps manage torrents of email and can even turn the tables on pernicious spammers -- sweet revenge!
Search Engine Forums Spotlight
Has Google Search changed?
google.public.support.general
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&threadm=[email protected]&prev=/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&group=google.public.support.general
"As far as DMOZ goes, they changed the structure of all their business listings... Google hasn't changed their own directory structure to reflect this difference."
Good link neighborhoods can turn bad
Webmaster World Search Engine Forums
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/6703.htm
"It is up to us all to make sure that our linkages are appropriate... it is clear that Google and other engines are serious about holding us responsible for our domains and their linkages."
Doc Searls on Google Guy
Webmaster World Search Engine Forums
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/6779.htm
"The ClueTrain guru gets it."
Does Google count internal links in backward links listing?
Cre8asite Forums
http://www.cre8asiteforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=392
"...bear in mind that unless the page is PR4 or higher, you WILL get some sort of credit, but it won't show in your backlinks at Google."
Searcher usability
The I-Search Discussion List
http://list.adventive.com/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0211&L=i-search&D=1&T=0&H=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=63
"Don't optimize for search engines! Instead, you should optimize for users."
Patent search engine
Free Pint Forum
http://www.freepint.com/bar/read.php?i=20755
"...does anyone know about a good patent search engine that is freeware?"
Google - 'Page Rank Uncovered' White Paper
ihelpyou Search Engine Forums
http://www.ihelpyouservices.com/forums/t5383/
"It just gives a good explanation of how PageRank probably works (not toolbar PR which is fairly useless) but real PR. It's quite fascinating, actually."
Overture bid prices?
Search Engine Forums at JimWorld
http://www.searchengineforums.com/Forum16/HTML/001342.html
"By requiring manual input of an Image Access Code, Overture's overall site performance will improve while still allowing current and potential advertisers who utilize bid information for legitimate purposes to have access to it."
Search Engine Forums Spotlight courtesy Search Engine Guide.
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