MakeUseOf Directory » spam

Unsubscribr: Automatically Scans Your Inbox & Let You Unsubscribe From Mailing Lists In Bulk

TehseenBaweja — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:01:45 +0000

Many of us have idle email boxes that we don’t check that frequently and as a result they get spammed by lots of mailing lists. Somebody has realized that unsubscribing from lots of bulk lists manually is a pain and has therefore invented a great tool called Unsubscribr. Once you authorize it to read your email account, it scans for all messages that appear to be coming from mailing lists or groups.

These results are then displayed in a nice table and you can instantly choose to unsubscribe from each list. Unsubscribr either sends an unsubscribe email directly on your behalf or directs you to an unsubscribe page. You can also choose to unsubscribe and delete the messages.

The tool only scans for messages from the last 5 days though and includes a limited number of folders. To scan a wider timeline or folder range, you can set up an account and pay a one time fees of $2. It’s totally worth it if your inbox is flooded with annoying subscription emails.

Features:

Scans your inbox for mailing list and group messages.
Let’s you quickly unsubscribe from and delete undesired messages.
Similar tool: Unsubscribe.

Visit Unsubscribr @ www.unsubscribr.com

BitDefender Antivirus: Protects Computer From Viruses Without Compromising System Performance (Free Licences)

Umar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:01:06 +0000

The best antivirus software available currently might provide you with good protection from malware but it will also greatly slow down your work and your computer’s performance by asking you for prompts every now and then. Here to offer you a thorough defense against viruses while keeping system performance fast is Antivirus 2012 Plus from international vendor Bitdefender Antivirus.

BitDefender Antivirus is a desktop application that protects your computer from malware. The antivirus is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. BitDefender offers numerous protection features including active monitoring, system scans while your machine is idle, and the ability to browse the Internet within BitDefender so any malware online is detected easily. For the various types of virus scans available, you can easily set the scan aggressiveness levels.

Apart from offering you thorough modification options, the antivirus has an autopilot mode that makes optimal security decision without prompting you for anything. This does not interrupt any work that you are doing and saves your time.

BitDefender also scans links you receive on social networks and gives advance warning of links that include malware. BitDefender costs $39.95 for a 1 PC per year license.

The developers of BitDefender have offered 9 free such licenses to MakeUseOf readers. Be amongst the first 9 to comment and get your license.

Features:

A user-friendly desktop app.
Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
Protects your computer against viruses.
Lets you choose protection level.
Has an autopilot mode to make security decisions without interrupting your work.
Does not compromise system performance.
Offers an in-app browser.
Searches for malware-including online links.

Check out BitDefender Antivirus @ www.bitdefender.com/solutions/antivirus.html (By Umar from AllThatIsApple)

PlayThru: Game Based CAPTCHAs For Your Site

TehseenBaweja — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:01:48 +0000

All of us have been proved non-human at some point or another by rogue CAPTCHAs. They are often unreadable and almost always annoying. PlayThru is a great alternative to traditional CAPTCHAs where instead of words or phrases, the CAPTCHA requires you to complete a 2-3 second game. Once you complete the dead simple game, you can proceed to the actual webpage.

For website owners, it comes as a fresh breeze since it increases user satisfaction and also keep the bots away, hence cutting down on spam. For brands and advertisers, this is another great chance to embed their messages in this new form of CAPTCHA. The website also has a ‘Rogues Gallery’ where it shows the wall of fame for some really ugly traditional CAPTCHAs.

Features:

Use simple games as CAPTCHAs for your website.
Increases user satisfaction and prevents bots.
Similar tools: VidoopCAPTCHA, NuCaptcha, MailHide ReCaptcha and WhySpamMe.
Also read related article: 5 Ways to Protect & Hide Your Email to Stop Receiving Spam.

Get PlayThrough @ www.areyouahuman.com

Facebook Phishing Protector: Protects From Facebook Phishing Scams And Hacking [Firefox]

Umar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 03:01:31 +0000

In recent months there have been numerous phishing scams that have targeted their victims through Facebook. Now a Firefox add-on called Facebook Phishing Protector aims to protect you from such Facebook phishing scams.

Facebook Phishing Protector is a free to use Firefox tool that helps protect you against phishing scams that target their victims through Facebook. Simply install the add-on and start using Facebook. In case there is any app that tries to run a malicious browser script, you are instantly informed of it. You are also notified if there is a site trying to mimic Facebook in order to obtain your Facebook username and password.

Features:

A user-friendly tool.
Comes as a browser add-on for Mozilla Firefox.
Protects you from Facebook phishing scams.
Notifies you if Facebook apps are running malicious scripts.
Notifies you if malicious sites are mimicking Facebook.

Check out Facebook Phishing Protector @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/facebook-phishing-protector (By Umar from AllThatIsApple)

MyPageKeeper: Keep Your Facebook Account Clean From Scams & Phishing

TehseenBaweja — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:01:24 +0000

With close to 700 million users, Facebook is dream land for scammers and hackers. With a new scam/phishing attack coming to light every day, MyPageKeeper is one of the few tools that can help you keep your Facebook account clean. Once you install the MyPageKeeper app, it automatically scans your Facebook wall, feeds and applications for unauthorized items and notifies you.

The app was created by a couple of PhD students and regularly posts statistics on their Facebook wall as to what new spam is making its way on to people’s profiles. The app learns as it grows so the more people who install this app, the more scams it will recognize and build the ability to fight against.

Features:

Facebook app that helps you fight spam and malware.
Works for your wall, feeds as well as applications.
Completely automatic with no tinkering needed.
Similar tools: Reppler, Reclaimprivacy, Openbook, Zesty Facebook Privacy Checker, VerifiedPages and byTagg.

Download MyPageKeeper from Facebook [Via Techie-Buzz]

Emailerr: Turn email into an image for protection against spambots

Umar — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:01:34 +0000

When you share your email address on websites and forums, it is prone to attacks by spambots. These bots look for text that looks like email addresses and then spams those addresses. Here to help you get protection against spam is a web service called Emailerr.

Emailerr is a free to use web service that transforms your email address into an image so that you do not have to share it as text online. All you have to do is type in your email address and select a few options as to how your email image will appear. Next you can download the image in PNG format.

Alternatively you can copy one of the links to the image that the site provides. These links correspond to a permalink, a direct image link, a JavaScript code, and an HTML code for the image.

Using Emailerr you can easily share your email address on forums and other websites without worrying about being spammed by spambots.

Features:

A user-friendly web service.
Turns your email address into an image.
Lets you download the image in PNG format.
Protects you against spambots.
Gives you direct image links, a JavaScript code, and an HTML code for the image.
Similar tools: EmailMe, EmailScramber, MailToEncoder, TheHTMLEncoder, The Enkoder Form, SpamProofEmailGenerator and HideText.

Check out Emailerr @ www.emailerr.com (By Umar from TechCityInc)

EmailMe: Create An Email Me Button To Save Yourself From Spam

TehseenBaweja — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:01:32 +0000

Everybody knows how it works, you publish your email address on a website or blog, the spam bots read it through their automated scripts and then fill your inbox with Viagra deals. EmailMe is a nice tool that lets you hide your email address behind a button so only humans can get to it.

Simply enter your email address and submit to generate the button. The tool will then provide you with a small JavaScript code that you can paste anywhere on your website or blog to embed this email button. Bots will now not be able to see what’s behind it but real people can still click on it. A contact form pops up that will let users email you without revealing your address. The button can also be added as a sidebar widget on WordPress or a gadget on Blogger.

Features:

Create a contact us form to receive emails.
Hide your email address behind an EmailMe button.
No registration required.
Similar tools: EmailScramber, MailToEncoder, TheHTMLEncoder, The Enkoder Form, SpamProofEmailGenerator and HideText.

Visit EmailMeButton @ www.emailmebutton.com

Lavasoft Rogue Gallery: Directory of rogue antimalware software

MOin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:01:42 +0000

While browsing the Internet, you might have seen a banner or popup that asks you to install a new antivirus program to rid you of computer infections. Mostly these intruding banners and pop-ups advertise rogue anti-malware software that would have adverse effects if installed onto your computer. A list of this malware can be found at Lavasoft Rogue Gallery.

Lavasoft Rogue Gallery catalogues all the rogue anti-malware and optimization tools it has on record. You can browse these programs alphabetically. You can click on a program to view its details. These details include a screenshot of the program’s window, the date it was found, its description, and the changes it produces on your system.

If you find a rogue application on your computer that is not listed, you can submit the app and its details to the website.

Features:

A website with a simple layout.
Records rogue antimalware and optimization applications.
Lets you view these programs alphabetically.
Includes a screenshot and description for each rogue app.
Lets you submit rogues apps.

Check out Lavasoft Rogue Gallery @ www.lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/rogues/latest (via DownloadSquad) (by MOin from ThumbPress)

PersonalBlocklist: Block Unwanted Search Results In Google [Chrome]

TehseenBaweja — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:01:49 +0000

If you are like thousands of other people who are tired of seeing spam in their search results, Google has an answer for you. They have released a Chrome extension called PersonalBlocklist that will allow you to block unwanted search results when you use Chrome.

You can at any time unblock a website by removing it from the block list. Data about your blocking/unblocking patterns will be sent to Google so they can improve their products. Note that you will still see the blocked site in results if you use any other browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.

It is a great way to clean up your search results a little bit and block those annoying websites that come up every now and then. It can also be used as a search filter if you are looking for something specific and a particular website is polluting your results.

Features:

Block unwanted websites from Google search.
Block/unblock anytime.
Works with Google Chrome only.
Similar tool: Search engine blacklist.

Download PersonalBlocklist from Chrome Web Store [Via TheNextWeb]

SpamRecycling: Recycle spam emails into unique pieces of visual art

MOin — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:01:03 +0000

Spam emails are annoying. Nobody needs to be bothered with emails that include useless advertisements. But these useless emails can now be recycled into works of art, all thanks to SpamRecycling.

SpamRecycling is a free to use website that converts your spam emails into unique animations that are accompanied by audio. All you do is forward your spam emails to “spam@spamrecycling.com”. You are sent an email reply with a link that you need to click. This link takes you to Spam Recycling’s website where your spam email’s text is loaded up like in the image above. To the left of the text you will see a control box where the background and the animation can be controlled.

Immediately your animation will begin and sounds will be played that make watching the animation even more fun. The audio can also be disabled via a button in the top right.

At anytime you can use the control box on the left to save an image of the animation in desktop resolution. The image is generated and emailed to you.

Features:

A user friendly website.
Lets you turn spam into unique visual art from.
Plays audio with the animation.
The audio can be disabled.
Lets you take a screenshot of the animation at anytime.
Emails you the screenshot in JPEG format and desktop resolution.

Check out SpamRecycling @ www.spamrecycling.com (by MOin from ThumbPress)