Fighting Spam
Many of our clients have encountered one of the few disadvantages of electronic mail - Spam. One glossary defines Spam as being 'the practice of sending massive amounts of E-mail promotions or advertisements (and scams) to people that have not asked for it'. Many times, Spam e-mail lists are created by 'harvesting' e-mail addresses from discussion boards and groups, chat rooms, and web pages.
There are a few measures already in place to prevent Spam from dropping into your in-box, some are effective, some less so. The hardest accounts to 'police' are online e.mail facilities such as those provided by AOL, BT Internet and Hotmail where you often use a web browser to view your e.mail. Despite the best efforts of the Internet Service Providers, Spam can still finds its way through.
Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail & Thunerbird
More effective prevention measures can be incorporated into Microsoft's Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Mail. There is plenty of software available, some free, some you purchase, that will add a small programme to these e.mail facilities that deletes Spam before it even gets to you.
One of the best we have found is called 'SPAMfighter' which is free for individual users, you actually download the 'Pro' version free for 30 days, after which time it reverts to the 'Standard' Version. Of course you can always buy the full 'Pro' version which, at the time of writing this page, is only £17 a year.
Should Spam still get through, then you simply highlight the e.mail by clicking it once (don't open it!), then click the 'Block' button that has been placed in your Outlook / Outlook Express / Windows Mail / Thunderbird toolbar and two things happen. (1) The spam disappears, and (2) by highlighting the e.mail as being a Spam, you automatically notify the over 7 million other Spamfighter users around the world! For more information about Spamfighter, please visit their website by clicking here.
Other Products
Of course, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and these website also offer anti-spam software, but we haven't tested them fully yet.
Mailwasher
Comodo Anti-Spam
Spam Butcher
eXpurgate
Spamicillin
Spam Terrier
Vade-Retro
K9 Anti-Spam