pubbox.net - Interesting Free IMAP/SMTP service

DrStrabismus · 27 Nov 2006, 03:07 AM

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.

**ReuvenNY** · 27 Nov 2006, 03:42 AM

Very interesting service! I am testing it right now.

nbarr · 27 Nov 2006, 04:17 AM

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

beeboy · 27 Nov 2006, 01:41 PM

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.

theog · 27 Nov 2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbarr
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

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

nbarr · 27 Nov 2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

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

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.

jrafter · 27 Nov 2006, 10:40 PM

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.

beeboy · 28 Nov 2006, 01:35 AM

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.

drew · 28 Nov 2006, 02:20 AM

I read this on his main page.

Quote:

... Users not training the spam filter with ham and spam as described in the antispam document will not get 1024MB. We check our logs regularly for that.

PUBBOX is not just "yet another email gateway", it's a philosophy. It is a growing community of people having an excellent email gateway without annoyances

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?

DrStrabismus · 28 Nov 2006, 02:21 AM

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.

beeboy · 28 Nov 2006, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrStrabismus
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.

**ReuvenNY** · 28 Nov 2006, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbarr
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 ISP is blocking port 25, but port 26 works fine with this service.

nbarr · 28 Nov 2006, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReuvenNY
My ISP is blocking port 25, but port 26 works fine with this service.

Thanks, good to know.

**ReuvenNY** · 28 Nov 2006, 03:39 AM

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

cheviot · 28 Nov 2006, 08:12 AM

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

Any suggestions?

27 Nov 2006, 03:07 AM	#1
DrStrabismus The "e" in e-mail Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,804	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.

27 Nov 2006, 04:17 AM	#3
nbarr Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 606	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 Last edited by nbarr : 27 Nov 2006 at 06:24 AM.

27 Nov 2006, 03:42 AM	#2
ReuvenNY Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New York Posts: 4,207	Very interesting service! I am testing it right now.

27 Nov 2006, 01:41 PM	#4
beeboy Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 547	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.

27 Nov 2006, 10:40 PM	#7
jrafter Essential Contributor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 363	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.

28 Nov 2006, 01:35 AM	#8
beeboy Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 547	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.

28 Nov 2006, 02:21 AM	#10
DrStrabismus The "e" in e-mail Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,804	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.

28 Nov 2006, 03:39 AM	#14
ReuvenNY Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New York Posts: 4,207	Correction: port 26 didn't work. I was using a SMPT of another service...

28 Nov 2006, 08:12 AM	#15
cheviot Essential Contributor Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indy Posts: 207	IMAP works fine via SSL, but I have not been able to get SMTP to work via my Reqwireless client... Any suggestions?