Spam Filters

You can filter your e-mail messages as they are downloaded from the server. The most popular e-mail programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Eudora, etc. permit you to filter mail as it is received. Note that some online e-mail services like HotMail also offer this feature. Read more about this at the bottom of this page.

Because all e-mail clients are different, they each have a unique way of configuring these options. In the interest of providing an example, we will show you how to use filtering with MS Outlook. (Be sure to see our links to other e-mail software at the bottom of this page)

Microsoft Outlook

You can filter your e-mail messages as they are downloaded from the server.

With MS Outlook open, click the Tools item on the top menu.

Select Rules Wizard from the drop-down menu

A new window appears labeled as Rules Wizard

A new window appears labeled as Rules Wizard

Click the New button on the top right of the window to begin adding your filtering rules. A new menu window will appear.

You will now choose how your messages will be filtered.

Here you will choose how your messages will be filtered. We recommend that you select Check messages when they arrive

Click the Next button to proceed to the next screen (shown below).

You can configure any or all of the conditions in this window.

You can edit any or all of the conditions in this window. Our recommendation is that you check the box with specific words in the subject or body

Then, click the "specific words" hyperlink in the window

A new pop-up window appears in which you can add any words you feel that you want to block (or filter). Obviously, this is the time to get creative and think of every "bad" word you don't want your children to be subjected to.

Click the Next button to proceed to the next screen (shown below).

Choose how you want to dispose of these messages.

Choose how you want to dispose of these filtered messages. You can move them to specific folders, forward to other email addresses or delete them.

Due to the subject matter and what you are trying to achieve, our recommendation is that you choose to permanently delete it

Other E-mail Software and Services

Listed below are links to the most popular e-mail clients and online e-mail services. To configure the filtering options on other e-mail clients, follow these resource links:

Outlook Express

Outlook Express has a similar feature to its big brother, Outlook. On the top menu bar, you can select the Message Rules option and filter messages in the same fashion as illustrated above. Although it is a different format, the process is intuitive and easy to implement. Pressing the F-1 key on your keyboard will also yield context-sensitive help.

Eudora

Manage messages and eliminate unwanted email easily through extensive filtering capabilities. (Learn more)

HotMail (and other online e-mail services)

HotMail's Junk Mail Filter examines incoming messages and filters mail it has identified as 'junk' to your Junk Mail Folder. You can choose a level of protection you prefer.

Choose how long you would like to hold on to 'junk' mail before it is deleted. Immediate Deletion - Messages identified as 'junk' will be deleted immediately, never reaching your account. Delayed Deletion - 'Junk' messages will be filtered to the Junk Mail folder and deleted after 7 days. (Learn more)

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