Provide a Testimonial to Mail Deflector

Read Testimonials from Mail Deflector Users

"Just wanted to let you know that I got the reports. 84% ... WOW ! I see the decrease in my mailq and system load already. No more complaints so far in terms of being blocked ...Thanks for such a great service !"
- Steve

As a customer of Mail-Deflector, I was asked to write to you with a brief summary and review of Mail-Deflector as it meets my needs.In a nutshell, I do independent network consulting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that includes day to day network maintenance, and the setting up of firewalls, web servers and Email servers. My customers depend heavily on their Email and can't afford delays due to Email congestion. What makes Mail-Deflector indispensable is that it gives its customers the final control over Spam filters. The Mail-Deflector database isn't the biggest, but it is rapidly growing. Automated tools put in place during install help it grow without the need for manual submissions.

I am an independent network consultant in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. I help provide my customers with support as basic as training and configuring network workstations on a network to the designing, planning, and implementation of multi-site WANs and VPNs across the DFW metroplex.

My customers have begun to rely heavily on Internet access and especially Email services. Some of my customers use Email to transfer automated data-packets each day. When these automated procedures can't function or are delayed, the issue of Email Spam goes from being an annoyance to being a detriment. Not only does it affect the Email server performance but it also affects factory floor production.

The problem with many of the RBL's (Real-time Block Lists) that I've tested is that they don't give me final control of mail delivery. Some of the RBLs don't work the way I need them to while others are too restrictive. For instance, once a mail server is listed in the SPAMCOP database, it will stay in the database for a week. If a sender's mail server gets listed in SPAMCOP I won't be able to receive that sender's email for a week, even if they fix their server that same day. Other RBL are too restrictive because they have begun listing the IP addresses associated with dial-up accounts. While that sounds like a good thing on the surface, AT&T Broadband Business Services has IP addresses for their business customers sprinkled throughout their residential cable modem dialup range. While this post-Excite-bankruptcy network redesign shouldn't take too much longer, business customers are stuck until ATT's is able to get business only IP ranges. (I'm told August 1st will bring new AT&T business broadband options.)

It has been a relief to me that I can give my customer's the Spam control they need while also allowing them to manage and override both who can and who can't send them Email.

I did have some Mail-Deflector setup issues, but I was able to work with Mail-Deflector tech support to resolve those. Some of the issues were mine while other issues were resolved by Mail-Deflector technicians re-working their system to accommodate various Email server configurations. It took a bit of time to get the first install of qmail and Mail-Deflector working, but subsequent installs now only take only about two minutes on my side. Now I only have to add one command line parameter and create one Email alias. I couldn't ask for a more simple setup. Of course your mileage may vary depending on your MTA and setup.

At this time, mail-deflector doesn't block all of the Spam I want it to block. I think my unrealistic expectations of the service came from the period in time when I was using three RBLs in concert to block Spam. While using three RBLs did virtually eliminate unwanted Emails, there were two occasions where valid Email was rejected. Dang that lack of control with other systems. Of course for any RBL to grow and work correctly, reports of Spam servers must be submitted. Mail-Deflector helps automate this by monitoring a fake Email account used to collect Spam. Users can also forward headers from Spam Emails to assist in Spam control.

The Mail-Deflector management tools are plain and rudimentary, but they get the job done. Appearances aren't all that important, but I expect that one day they'll get the hankr'in to spiffy the interfaces. One issue I have is how entries entered into the database get reversed on purpose. This is a function of how RBLs work. I'm sure that one day someone will modify the Mail-Deflector maintenance scripts to re-reverse the octets for display. Until then, one has to remember that they are looking at reversed numbers. (With the impending release of IPv6 and their long hexadecimal IP addresses, this might become more than just a wish list item for me!)
I don't know how much customization they've done for me and my customers, but I know they listen to my suggestions and help me make Mail-Deflector work the way I need it to work. If one of my customers has a sender's Email rejected, resolution tools are available. The rejected sender can either protest directly to Mail-Deflector OR use one of the up-and-coming Mail-Deflector features that allows the rejected sender to contact the rejecting site to submit their request to be 'whitelisted'.

So all this boils down to what? Well, I believe that Mail-Deflector has the best arrangement for Spam control. Customizable block and accept lists, install and forget usage, message rejection statistics, and a responsive staff should you need their assistance. I will be continuing to recommend Spam Deflector to my customers and recommend that you at least give it a no cost six month whirl. Drive it around the 'net, kick the tires and see what you think.

I wish you the best of luck in your search.