Tech Corner

Tech Corner
Anti-spam tool looks promising

The Division of Information Technology began an assessment of a new anti-spam tool, DSPAM, in the fall, and initial results of the pilot program and input from pilot-program volunteers are favorable. IT is continuing to evaluate this product as a potential campus-wide solution to spam e-mail.

DSPAM uses advanced statistical analysis to combat unsolicited bulk e-mail. It is designed to learn what each individual user would consider spam and classify their e-mail accordingly. While most commercial solutions catch 95 percent of spam, DSPAM users frequently report 99.95 percent accuracy.

IT is actively addressing e-mail spam issues at Rice. The pilot program will be expanded campus-wide in the near future. Opportunities to participate will be announced on the IT Web site, <www.rice.edu/it>.