Node Six is in the final stages of experimenting with various anti-spam solutions in order to curb a seemingly rampant influx on spam on client's websites and email. We've zeroed in on SpamAssasin as the tool of choice, and we will be rolling it out to all clients in a couple of weeks.

We strive hard to be able to create and develop solutions that are relevant to our client's needs and which also aid in general productivity on the client's side. No one wants to be encumbered with trying to sort out junk mail and spam from their business email.

One solution we introduced a long time ago was using CAPTCHA images on all our feedback forms. The CAPTCHA technique involves generating ramdom text into an image which is then placed at the bottom of the form. The person filling in the form then has to input the exact words and  numbers they see into a box next to the CAPTCHA image. This curbs spam by ensuring that whoever is filling in the form is not a form-filling spam robot or script, but an actual human being. Click here for a full explanation of CAPTCHA and to visit the CAPTCHA homepage .

There are all sorts of complex algorithms and scripts that need to run to achieve this, and with the help of open source tools and Jason, our inhouse programmer, we were able to pull off an effective CAPTCHA system.

And now as we experiment with anti-spam solutions, we have discovered a whole new level of scripts, algorithms and different approaches to some of these solutions, just a few lines of code short of rudimentary artificial intelligence.

For example, the very first time I came across the word "heuristics" in a certain anti-virus program's deep functionality options, I was sufficiently impressed by its assumed meaning and complexity. I could understand what it meant from context, but I was even more impressed when I went ahead to find out it's exact definition:

"A problem-solving technique in which the most appropriate solution is selected using rules. Interfaces using heuristics may perform different actions on different data given the same command. All systems using heuristics are classified as intelligent."
http://www.acypher.com/wwid/BackMatter/Glossary.html

and

"A rule-based method of identifying new viruses. This method of scanning does not rely on specific virus signatures. The advantage of the heuristic scan is that it is not fooled by a new variant of an existing virus."
http://viruscenter.freedom.net/html/glossary.html

Further reading was deeply insightful and helped me appreciate the level of commitment some people and companies go to to make things easier for the average computer user. I later found myself applying that same term in all sorts of relevant (and sometimes irrelevant) scenarios :-)

And now, as Node Six finalises its research into anti-spam solutions, we believe that this kind of research, however long and tedious, will go a long way in ensuring that our clients get the dedicated service and support that we promise.

We'll keep you updated on the anti-spam solutions as we progress. Please remember to register for our newsletter (details on the home page) to get the latest news and updates from Node Six.

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