Filtering spam

The mass influx of SPAM (junk mail) can be very frustrating but it is an inevitable part of electronic correspondence. This applies to personal accounts, but even more so to corporate accounts that need to stay free of clutter. Spam not only causes annoyance but also wastes valuable time by making it harder to filter important emails.

SPAM Filtering in Microsoft Outlook

• In Outlook, go to Tools -> Rules and Notifications…
• In the pop-up window, click on New Rule
• Select Create a Template Based Rule
• In the Step 1: Select Template window, choose Move Messages with Specific Words in the Subject to a Folder
• In the Step 2: Edit Rule Description window
• First click on specific words -> Type *SPAM*, then click Add and Ok
• Click on the specified folder -> Select the folder where you want to send junk mail (e.g. Deleted Items)
• Next, Next, Next, Next, Finish

SPAM Filtering in Thunderbird

The Thunderbird email client has a built-in SPAM filter that you can activate by following these steps:

• Click on Mailbox Settings in the Tools menu 
• Click on the Junk Mail submenu for the mailbox you have configured
• Tick the box next to Adaptive Junk Mail Controls…
• Tick Do Not Mark as Junk
• Tick Accept Provider’s Spam Filter and select SpamAssasin
• Tick Move New Junk Mail, the optional folder below can be left at the default setting (Junk)
• Tick Delete Messages Marked as Junk
• OK

In Thunderbird, you can create so-called “filter rules” to automatically remove junk mail.

• Go to Tools -> Message Filters…
• Click the New… button
• Filter name: SPAM
• Select Match Any of the Following
• Set the criteria as:
• Subject -> Contains -> *SPAM*
• Select the action to be performed, e.g. Move Message, then select a folder (e.g. Trash), OK

Click Run Now to test the newly created filter.

SPAM Filtering in Outlook Express

• In Outlook Express, go to Tools -> Message Rules/Mail
• In the pop-up window:
• Select Create a Template Based Rule
• Step 1: Select Conditions for Rule
• Tick If the Subject Line Contains Specific Words
• Select Step 2: Select Actions for Rule
• Tick Go to Next File
• Step 3: Describe the Rule
• Click on Contains Specific Words -> Type *SPAM*, then click Add
• Click on Folder and select the destination for junk mail (e.g. Deleted Items)
• OK, OK.