UserPreferences

Pop3Proxy


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1. Pop3Proxy

If you receive your email via POP3, and you can't use the OutlookPlugin, you should use the SpamBayes Pop3Proxy (which is called sb_server in the newer releases). The [WWW]SpamBayes README has full instructions on how to install the Pop3Proxy.

Please use this page to share tips or advice about the Pop3Proxy.

1.1. Pop3Proxy as a service or tray application under Windows

Windows NT, 2000, and XP users can use the pop3proxy_service script to start the proxy as a service. Windows users could also use the pop3proxy_tray script to put an icon in the system tray to either control the service or start the proxy in a background thread. The tray icon offers quick access to starting and stopping the proxy and bookmarks to the proxy web pages. Both scripts are in the "windows" folder of the source and require Mark Hammond's win32all (found at [WWW]http://starship.python.net/crew/mhammond/win32/Downloads.html) to be installed.

Tom Peters submitted this Pop3ServiceQuickStartGuide to the spambayes mailing list.

1.2. Pop3Proxy as a daemon under Unix

See SpamBayesAsUnixDaemon for details.

1.3. Kmail (versions 3.1.x)

If you run pop3proxy (or sb_server.py now) as a daemon, it is easy to use Kmail with spambayes. First, be sure you change your network settings to point to pop3proxy. These are found under Settings -> Configure Kmail -> Network -> Receiving.

From: Mike Blonder Date: February 19, 2005

Set Host to 'Localhost'. Set Port to Port within the range of 8110 and up. Be sure to set a discrete port per pop3 account. Utilize http://localhost:8880 to configure Spambayse for acual pop3 account hosts & ports.

If you want to train Spambayes by redirecting mail instead of by using the web-based control panel, then you also need to set up Settings -> Configure Kmail -> Network -> Sending. Remember that the port number is different.

After you have correctly modified the settings, now you have to setup the filters that will get rid of the spam and help you with training. First, create a folder called "Spambayes". In the "Spambayes" folder, create two sub-folders "spam" and "unsure".

Next, create filters rule under Settings -> Configure Filters.

Create a new rule and in the Filter Criteria section, first box (the one with the pulldown) type in (you can't select it) X-Spambayes-Classification In the next box, select "equals", and in the final box, type spam. Mail that matches this rule should be moved to the Spambayes/spam folder. To do this, under the filter actions section (below where you created the Filter Criteria), pick "move to folder" and then select the folder to move it too. Also, under "advanced options", check the box "If this filter matches, stop processing here". This rule should be at the top of your filter rule list but below any addresses you want to whitelist.

From: Mike Blonder Date: February 19, 2005

This procedure is substantially different for KMail 1.6.2: Select '<any header>' in the Filter Criteria Section. In the next box, select "contains", and in the final box, type 'X-Spambayes-Classification: spam'. Use the same procedure for configuration of the following filters.

Create another new rule and in the Filter Criteria section, first box (the one with the pulldown) type in (you can't select it) X-Spambayes-Classification In the next box, select "equals", and in the final box, type unsure. Mail that matches this rule should be moved to the Spambayes/unsure folder. To do this, under the filter actions section (below where you created the Filter Criteria), pick "move to folder" and then select the folder to move it too. Also, under "advanced options", check the box "If this filter matches, stop processing here". This rule should be at the top of your filter rule list but below any addresses you want to whitelist.

Use Message --> Forward --> Redirect when training. See your Spambayes web-based control panel's configuration page to find out what "fake" email address is used when redirecting training emails.

1.4. Evolution (version 1.4.x)

You can also configure Ximian's Evolution to pull POP3 mail through the SpamBayes Pop3Proxy. Go to Tools -> Settings, open the Mail Accounts Page and edit all of your accounts. In the "Receiving Mail" tab, change the hostname of your POP3 server to localhost:port where port is the one that redirects to the original server. Appending ":port" to the hostname is not immediately obvious from this dialog box, but you can do it.

If you want to train Spambayes by redirecting mail instead of by using the web-based control panel, then you also need to set up "Sending Mail". Remember that the port number is different.

To filter the mail based on the classifications SpamBayes applies, go to Tools -> Filters... and add a new filter on the X-Spambayes-Classification header field. Evolution can move this mail to a different folder when it sees spam in this field.

You probably also want to create a filter for the X-Spambayes-Classification headers that contain unsure. Preferably the "spam" and "unsure" messages are filtered to different folders.

Use Action --> Forward --> Redirect when training. See your Spambayes web-based control panel's configuration page to find out what "fake" email address is used when redirecting training emails.

1.5. Pop3Proxy Interface Selection

Although the instructions don't make it clear, when specifying a port for pop3proxy to listen on, you can also specify an interface. This can greatly increase your security. If you aren't listening on a particular interface (i.e. the adapter you use to connect to the internet), it is impossible to exploit any flaws in pop3proxy from that interface. This has been dubbed portwalling.

In the SpamBayes Ports box (basic configuration), enter the ip address of your local interface followed by a colon, then the port. For example "192.168.1.1:6110". If you don't want to share your pop3proxy with the world, use your internal address(s). If in doubt, use 127.0.0.1 for an ip address. It should then be impossible to send anything at all to pop3proxy from the internet.