[joseph456]

What are my options to minimize the amount of spam I receive in Outlook - 90% of what I receive is spam.

Thanks!

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I would look at creating message rules... I have 2 rules in my email client to filter out most of the spam
The first rule is a blocked senders list, I tend to block senders by the second part of the email addy as the first part is usually random.

The second rule I have created is a blocked subject words list, here I have keywords such as viagra, loans, mortgages, insurance and other keywords blocked - Both rules I have set to move the emails to a spam folder where I can run a quick check before deleting them.

You can also get programs which will check email from the ISP server before it reaches your computer but I havnt really played with these myself.

Also I would advise that you have 2 email accounts set up - one for general internet use and one for private use for friends and family only. I use the general account as disposable, then, every 6 months I will delete and re-create a new account which will stop the build up of crap, just remember to update details in any forums that you are registered at !

[Saracen]

I would look at creating message rules... I have 2 rules in my email client to filter out most of the spam
The first rule is a blocked senders list, I tend to block senders by the second part of the email addy as the first part is usually random.

The second rule I have created is a blocked subject words list, here I have keywords such as viagra, loans, mortgages, insurance and other keywords blocked - Both rules I have set to move the emails to a spam folder where I can run a quick check before deleting them.

You can also get programs which will check email from the ISP server before it reaches your computer but I havnt really played with these myself.

Also I would advise that you have 2 email accounts set up - one for general internet use and one for private use for friends and family only. I use the general account as disposable, then, every 6 months I will delete and re-create a new account which will stop the build up of crap, just remember to update details in any forums that you are registered at !

[joseph456]

Thanks

[maaaark]

Hello

I have created rules and I also have Norton Antispam, but this is just a sorting mechanism. What is the cause of SPAM and how can I get to the root of it?

Mark

[Johanna]

The sorting mechanism is the only real defense, because legit mail does get caught occasionally. There are third party programs like MailWasher, and some ISPs offer spam protection (Mine uses a service called Postini that is very effective). GMail (web based email) has the best spam filters I've seen bar none.

Spam comes from all those forwards that people don't delete headers from, posting your email addy in an open forum like this one, not having a "throwaway" addy like suggested above, spam comes from unscrupulous list sellers and bot harvesters and some people who don't care if only 1% of the recipients bite. One reasonable way to combat spam is to never ever open it, just delete it. Sometimes spammers just want to know if your email addy is valid, and will put beacons in to see if you received it. Bottom line, you can reduce the volume of spam, you can reduce the nuisance factor, but you can't eliminate it.
Johanna

[maaaark]

This is as I feared