Increased SPAM to @ntlworld.com Addresses

dave6x · 11-12-2009, 12:10

I have had a huge increase in SPAM emails for Viagra, etc over the last week seemingly targeting @ntlworld.com email addresses where I assume my email addy is in the BC address list.

Has anyone else noticed this lately? Are VM/NTL having issues with SPAM filtering?

Kymmy · 11-12-2009, 12:12

No idea, but you do have to remember that Spam filters only tend to work properly once the spam is identified as such and reported either as a style, IP or senders address..

Hence you get days when a new spam cycle is excessive until the spam filters learn how to cope with it and then it drops off.. and the cycle starts over again

dave6x · 11-12-2009, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

No idea, but you do have to remember that Spam filters only tend to work properly once the spam is identified as such and reported either as a style, IP or senders address..

Hence you get days when a new spam cycle is excessive until the spam filters learn how to cope with it and then it drops off.. and the cycle starts over again

True!

But from the situation a few years ago when NTL were the absolute pits for SPAM and I was getting up to 120 SPAM emails per day then and had to use filtering software, they got their act together and I was receiving only 2-3 per week. Recently I am getting 20-30 per day and most of these should be easily tracked and filtered as they have Viagra in the Subject line and no clever graphics to disguise the subject!!!! I just hope that we're not returning to the bad old days.

Kymmy · 11-12-2009, 12:19

I think these days they're a lot faster at clamping down on the spammers, you might have just been unlucky and been the first on NTL to get this batch, now that it's hopefully been reported by someone others on NTL won't get it..

admars · 11-12-2009, 17:33

I turned off the spam filter, and told it to just put SPAM in the subject line is it incorrectly identified some emails from shops, mailing lists, and even individuals as spam

dave6x · 12-12-2009, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by admars

I turned off the spam filter, and told it to just put SPAM in the subject line is it incorrectly identified some emails from shops, mailing lists, and even individuals as spam

I understand what you're saying but I'm referring to the type of SPAM that you would usually never see as the Mail service provider identifies it and discards it without it ever reaching your mailbox.

nefu · 13-12-2009, 10:08

I too have noticed a vast increase in my spam over the last week, almost as if the filter is broken. My spam is normally routed to the spam folder, however at present even easily identifiable stuff is getting through to my inbox. I'll try a call to support and let you know the outcome.

dave6x · 13-12-2009, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefu

I too have noticed a vast increase in my spam over the last week, almost as if the filter is broken. My spam is normally routed to the spam folder, however at present even easily identifiable stuff is getting through to my inbox. I'll try a call to support and let you know the outcome.

Well that's my point. My mail client is readily recognizing the SPAM, it's only using the default settings, and shifting it into the "Junk Folder", it is easily identifiable as SPAM as it has the usual stuff in the Subject line but is getting past the Mail Server filters!

Toto · 13-12-2009, 12:56

Doesn't appear to be much wrong with VM's spam filters.

I have just logged into webmail to check my spam folder, and it is currently holding 184 pieces of junk email for the last 7 days, and allowed through only 8 which my local spam filter caught, bar one.

---------- Post added at 11:56 ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 ----------

They use a filtering system called Cloudmark. It seems to do a good job, but given that they won't be using it once we get migrated to the google email platform, the support may not be as good as it was coming to end of contract perhaps.

Interesting too, I have noticed an increase in spam in my Hotmail account, something that Hotmail would normally filter. It's likely then the spam groups have come up with new anti detection routines.

Wayfair · 13-12-2009, 12:59

I'm with Toto on this, I have 108 spam's on my webmail and 3 in outlook express that are in the junk folder.

Hmmmmm should I turn the filter off? do I need 'it' bigger, better with more vigor? or maybe a R0lex watch to turn my wrist green this Christmas.

JammyLodger · 13-12-2009, 22:11

I've had the Viagra spam problem with my NTL email for about a week.
Now getting over 20 per day - normally I only get 1 or 2 spam per month!

I do notice I only get them with my default email address, none with the others.
Been patiently waiting for it to stop.
I'd hoped Virgin would be working to take them out of the NTL email system.
Seems not.

dave6x · 14-12-2009, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JammyLodger

I've had the Viagra spam problem with my NTL email for about a week.
Now getting over 20 per day - normally I only get 1 or 2 spam per month!

I do notice I only get them with my default email address, none with the others.
Been patiently waiting for it to stop.
I'd hoped Virgin would be working to take them out of the NTL email system.
Seems not.

Thanks for your reply, confirms my experience over the last week or so. I'm actually getting it on just one of my sub-accounts, but I suppose it depends which of your email addresses the ba***rds have harvested!

Toto · 14-12-2009, 18:52

Here's some advice you may find of use.(ntlworld.com email users only)

Obviously for some the spam is getting through, so here's a short term solution.

1 Stop using your default email client to collect email until you have first checked webmail.
2 Log into webmail (perhaps just on the email account that is getting spammed).
3 Review uncollected email, anything you think is spam place a ticket against it, then click on the report as spam button. Those emails are moved to your webmail trash folder, and copies are automatically submitted for spam analysis.
4 Empty your trash folder
5 Collect what's remaining with your email program.

Do this for a couple of weeks, and the cloudmark system should then learn why the spam is getting through, and create rules for it.

This usually works for me, worth the extra few minutes a day to be honest.

JammyLodger · 14-12-2009, 22:06

Just to say that the spam seems to have stopped as of this morning - got one, then nothing all day since.
Dearly trust it's now over...

Toto, I've taken a copy of your solution for future reference, but hope I'll never have to use it!
Many thanks.

Toto · 14-12-2009, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JammyLodger

Just to say that the spam seems to have stopped as of this morning - got one, then nothing all day since.
Dearly trust it's now over...

Toto, I've taken a copy of your solution for future reference, but hope I'll never have to use it!
Many thanks.

Nice.