ChoiceMail 1.4

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Using a challenge/response system, this program effectively blocks spam from your e-mail account and offers extras, which makes it a great option among the many spam blockers available. ChoiceMail blocks spam by sending a reply e-mail to any new senders, asking them to verify their identities. Because spammers won't go through this process, ChoiceMail won't forward any spam to you. The program builds whitelists and blacklists out of identity confirmations and lets you customize those lists. Some of your correspondents may not like the extra step of confirming their identities, but they will only have to do it once. In addition to these strict guidelines, you can create keywords that ChoiceMail will look for before sending e-mail on to you. ChoiceMail also comes with an extensive set of rules for blocking e-mail, such as common keywords and other obvious spam traits (such as using certain types of HTML). We particularly like being able to pick and choose the rules we want to apply because it lets us set a precise level of protection. ChoiceMail cannot be used by Outlook users who are on Microsoft Exchange Server unless it supports POP3 accounts. In spite of that, ChoiceMail does a great job of blocking unwanted spam, although you will have to get your correspondents to take an extra step before they can e-mail you.

Publisher's description

From DigiPortal Software :

ChoiceMail is a spam-blocking system based on the premise that all incoming e-mail is assumed to be spam until senders have obtained permission (registered) to send you e-mail. Unapproved senders are automatically offered the opportunity to register. The registration process requires manual intervention by the sender, thereby eliminating all automatic spamming systems.

This process is completely automatic and you are not disturbed until somebody actually submits a registration request. Incoming messages from senders unknown to you are held up and the sender is asked to fill in a form explaining why he or she wants to contact you. If senders do not register after a set period, their messages are quietly deleted. Existing senders in your address book can be automatically imported into ChoiceMail so that they are preapproved. ChoiceMail also preapproves anyone to whom you first send a message. New features in version 1.4 include support for MSN, Secure Password Authentication, multiple SMTP servers for mobile users, automatic configuration for Outlook 98, 2000, 2002 (XP), and Safe Message Preview.

Note: ChoiceMail works with POP3 mail systems. It does not currently work with IMAP, Web-based e-mail systems such as Hotmail, Yahoo Mail or with AOL.

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