DNA Sequencing Algorithms Used to Stop Spam

Researchers at IBM's bioinformatics labs have created a new system for recognizing spam.

The new spam filtering technique is based on the Teiresias algorithm that was originally created to examine DNA in order to locate frequently occurring patterns.

Computers running the algorithm were fed 65,000 different spam messages as part of its training process. Millions of different sequences were recorded by the anti-spam software.

The scientists claim that the system is capable of identifying up to 97% of spam with a false positive rate of 1 in 6000. This compares favorably compared to almost all other approaches to filtering.

No word on if there are plans to commercially implement the new spam catching system.

Spammers have recently deployed tactics to outsmart many Bayesian filtering systems. The article makes not indication if IBM's system would be immune to such strategies.

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