Prevent Spam
There are many different types of filters and blockers you can get to prevent spam from entering your inbox. Most online email providers, like Hotmail and Yahoo, include spam filters with their service. However, you may find that you need or want more spam content to be blocked from your address.
If you choose to install an extra spam filter, you should first consider the amount of emails you receive and the amount of money you are able to spend. When choosing a program, look for the following features:
- Spam should be quarantined rather than automatically deleted. The quarantine view should allow you to view the sender, the subject, the first few lines of text, and any attachments so you can decide for yourself whether to delete or accept the message.
- Another useful feature is a bounce-back option. Some programs allow you to send the message back to the spammer so they think that your address is invalid and, hopefully, remove you from their mailing list.
- When choosing a filter, it is also important to determine how you access your email account. If you access your email from the same computer, you can install a software program on your main computer. However, if you often access your email remotely then you may want a program that attaches to the email program itself.
- Finally, as spammers find new ways around filters, look for a filter that offers periodic updates. This way, even the latest techniques that spammers use will more than likely be caught by your filter.
Whatever spam filter you choose it is important to remember that no program will detect and filter 100% of unwanted emails.