If you use Windows, it’s always easy to know which programs to go for. You’re kind of the top priority for software developers, so you get the good stuff first.
If you own a Mac, your selections aren’t quite as plentiful as they are for Windows users, but you’ve still got options. Apple is always putting out new stuff, and Mac is a popular format for homebrew apps from a dedicated user base.
But what if you prefer something like Unix? Somehow, while Unix has plenty of great Unix-only apps, it seems to be pretty low on the priority list for many software makers simply because of the smaller userbase. Unix and Linux both have some smart, dedicated users putting out their own homebrew stuff (and this is something that attracts a lot of users in the first place), but when it comes to reliable protection against spam and viruses, you don’t have as many options to choose from as the people using Windows and Mac OS.
So we’ve gone ahead and taken over the frustrating process of Googling over and over again until you find what you’re after. Here are some of the best, most popular, and most well reviewed spam killers for Unix users.
SpamAssassin
SpamAssassin earns high reviews for its thorough approach to spam killing, attacking spam based on a wide database of known spam sources, email addresses and sender IDs, and by searching for obvious keywords, as well as disguised keywords, like using “V1agra” in place of Viagra. It gets regular updates, it’s easy to use, and it works.
Spamato
Spamato is primarily designed for POP and IMPA accounts, and is pretty precise. It also makes use of plugins so as to easily work with Outlook and Mozilla Thuunderbird. Reviewers tend to like the simplified, easy to use interface.
SpamBayes
SpamBayes uses pretty much every trick in the book to get rid of spam and junk mail. It’s pretty much a solid brick wall for Unix users, and reviewers like it for its sheer impenetrability.
It’s tough finding all the best software when you’re on any OS besides Windows. They get all the good stuff first, while Unix, Linux, and Mac users have to wait their turn in line. Luckily, there are a few good programs that have made their way to the less used operating systems.
Give the above a try, see which one you like, and stick with it.
