pubbox.net - Interesting Free IMAP/SMTP service
 

I recently found this free email service, which I can't find any mention of here.

http://pubbox.net/

I think it's probably someone's hobby project, and I can't comment on reliability, but it looks pretty good.

• 1GB IMAP account
• SMTP server, which relays for any sender address
• Minimalist Squirrelmail webmail
• No ads on site or taglines on mail.
• 100MB FTP storage
• Very good spam filtering

It's the spam filtering that makes it particularly interesting. It's using a custom two-stage Bayesian filter based on Bogofilter. Anything that gets through Bogofilter, and has image attachements is sent through OCR and is tested again by Bogofilter. It seems to be very effective.

Very interesting service! I am testing it right now.

Yes, Interesting. Thanks for the link.
The trainable (via IMAP) spam filter is nice.

Whois info on pubbox.net indicates it's fairly new:
Record last updated on: 2006-10-21 15:53:50
Record expires on: 2007-10-04 11:46:26

edit: Sqwebmail is not Squirrelmail

Imap seems to work well but I am unable to get smtp to work in Thunderbird. Anyone have any luck.

Pubbox recommends Sylheed Claws but I would rather set my hair on fire. The last time I tried this client it was terrible.

In germany as well... no real red flags, but I'll watch from the sidelines.

I initially thought it was not working properly as well. I was trying to use SSL for SMTP on port 465. However SSL is not yet supported for SMTP only for IMAP. Armin, the fellow at pubbox.net, said that this is subject to change in just a few days. So in the meantime it is necessary to use standard port 25 for SMTP which might be a problem for some people as it is blocked by some ISP's.

My questions to support have been answered promptly, helpfully, and knowledgeably. The owner of the service appears to be a long-time computer professional with UNIX and systems security expertise.

Thanks nbarr.

Why didn't Pubbox make this plain in their introductory email? They have all this emphasis on security. I will wait a few days to see what happens but I need ssl smtp in my situation.

I read this on his main page.
Maybe some kind person could invite him to join EMD to be a rep for his service. Or maybe he already are active here but keeping a low profile? :)

There aren't really any significant security implications. The SMTP authentication uses CRAM-MD5, so your password isn't visable, and SMTP is gong to be relayed onwards without SSL in any case.

My main concern is ssl between me and my email provider's server.

I share a community wireless network where the administrator can view all interactions.

My ISP is blocking port 25, but port 26 works fine with this service.

Thanks, good to know.

Correction: port 26 didn't work. I was using a SMPT of another service...

IMAP works fine via SSL, but I have not been able to get SMTP to work via my Reqwireless client...

Any suggestions?

No, not squirrel. I hate PHP.
Sqwebmail has some minor bugs, but it's the nicest/smallest/fastest/most compatible thing i have found.

And PUBBOX is new, but not that new:
It started in December 2005, which can not
be seen in the whois, because of an update.

Most Basic functions like SMTP, IMAP were online in January,
i guess. The first webmail (CAMAS) was then deployed in March,
and was then replaced by Sqwebmail 5 months later.
Anyway CAMAS remains available, for those who prefer it, or
have problems with Sqwebmail, which is unlikely.

PUBBOX is traditional by all means. Services once switched on remain as long as possible.

The spam-filter is good so far, and will improve when going
towards CRM114, which is not an easy task to switch to, so
this takes time.

False Positive did not occur so far, and are not likely to happen.
Even forwarded spam messages are qualifed as "unsure". Comes
in handy when users want to exchange spam messages for analysis purposes...except for image attachements, i am a bit more aggressive there.


And yes, SMTP via SSL will be enabled soon.

Welcome to the forum, PUBBOX! Please send a PM to Edwin (forum owner) to introduce yourself, so he can add the "Representative of:" to your profile.

So far your service seems promising. What is your business model? Do you have plans to offer your service at some point on a commercial basis (for a fee)? if not, what are your goals?

Glad you could join us PUBBOX.

It's a Nice forum
 

Well, this appears to me as a real nice environment :)
It's most definitly worth the keystrokes.

Where is/are your server(s) located? Data center, house, etc....

Welcome to the forums.....:)

as you suspected: .
More precisely: in Berlin, acting capital city.

Are your servers on a dsl line or in a datacenter?

Datacenter, 100MBit/s Ethernet.

RFC 3207 defines how SMTP connections can make use of encryption. Once a
connection is established, the client issues a STARTTLS command....

SSL is now enabled.
Works both with new style STARTTLS as well as with old crappy clients connecting on port 465.

hi pubbox,
i really like your mail service, looks good.

i hope yo will improve it ,like adding calender, task,notepad.
the interface looks very clean and is fast.
gar nicht mal schlecht :)

Instead I hope you could earn money from other ways ASAP,without money support,no one can run this kind of freemail.

Not trying to cause a stir but...
I do not see a privacy policy statement anywhere on the site.

It's currently hidden in the Terms and Conditions:

3. PRIVACY

3.1 Pubbox stores your name, ...
3.2 You acknowledge...
(a) comply with any law;
(b) respond to claims of violation of the rights of a third party;
(c) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of Pubbox, its users and the public.

Yes, you are right. This should be available separately, too. Nevertheless, this is a policy, saying: PUBBOX stores minimal information and gives it to no one else until it has no choice, but to do so.

Calendar and other things are hard to implement into SMTP/IMAP. When the time comes PUBBOX will start with an ICAL like interface, maybe via SSL. Webmail integration is always the last thing on PUBBOX, it's just a matter of color, not function.

Try using email clients like Sylpheed, Thunderbird, Outlook, mutt, etc. This is even faster.

and... Danke :)

There is enough money, don't worry :)
PUBBOX is, in a matter of perspective, a demonstration showing what can be done, too. Other projects are coming around, these are the profit makers, not the ads i easily could "attach".

Nevertheless, donations are welcome :)

Ah, thanks. I guess I need to read more carefully.

Problem with SMTP
 

I am using Mozilla Suite email client with Pubbox.net. My ISP is blocking port 25 but allowing port 26. Other SMTPs I am using work fine, but I have a problem with your service. Could you post some instructions of how to set it correctly?

Thanks.

For those out there whose ISP's block Port 25.
SMTP SSL Port 465 now works.

Thanks, that worked!

I can't get SMTP SSL Port 465 to work in Apple's Mail.app. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Teach / Learn
 

OK, SSL IMAP AOK!

How do you do the ham / spam learn or teach thing?

Re: Teach / Learn
 

Amongst your list of folders you will see one call 'ham-learn' and one called 'spam-learn'.

Copy the non-spam (ham) into ham-learn and the spam into 'spam-learn'.

It seems that the 'ham' one returns the originals to the inbox once digested but safest to 'play' with copies till you're comfortable with how it behaves.

Move to the "ham" only the false positive - those that were flagged SPAM that are NOT spam.

Details of Pubbox spam process is here including the information that the ham-train folder returns e-mails to the Inbox whereas that in spam-train is deleted.

Move to "ham" as much as you can. (Of course, each email only once.) This is to prevent false positives, not just to react on them. Well, of course, once you really have one it should go there, too... But this is VERY UNLIKELY.