junk mail

[Mike]

Why is there a message rule that I did not create. It says,
Apply this rule after the message arrives from senders on my exception list
do not search message for commercial or adult content.

And when I try to disable it, it says,
Disabling this rule might cause junk email coloring not to work properly,
....

I get tons of junk mail and none of it is colored. I think I need some help
in configuring this. Where is the criteria for junk mail? I did not define
any. I have numerous rules I created on my own with dozens of search words.
I add to them all the time. Am I doing this the hard way?

 

[Snarky Parker]

I think you're fighting a losing battle if you're doing this by only using Rules
criteria.

You didn't mention which version of Outlook you're using. My answers are based
on Outlook 2002 SP3.

I'm going to recommend installing an anti-spam utility that is more proactive
(doesn't rely on black or white lists), but before that here are some answers to
your questions:

See these links:

Update junk e-mail filters for Outlook
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010450041033.aspx

Microsoft Junk E-Mail Filter Readme
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010450051033.aspx

To activate the coloring of spam and adult messages, click on Tools > Organize >
Junk E-Mail and make your selections. Keep in mind that only those incoming
messages that are identified by the e-mail filters will be colored. The spammers
are aware of these lists so don't expect too much color in your mail.

I recommend using an anti-spam utility that uses a statistical algorithm rather
than black or white lists to identify spam. The spammers know about these lists
already.

Here's a link to an excellent and free version for Outlook:

http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/

They offer this utility as a plug-in that integrates quite well in Outlook. Note
that this utility "learns" which is "spam" and which is "ham" based on existing
samples and then as-received in your inbox. Based on this feature, it helps to
have a folder full of "spam" and an equal amount of "ham" (good mail) to start
with.

| Why is there a message rule that I did not create. It says,
| Apply this rule after the message arrives from senders on my exception list
| do not search message for commercial or adult content.
|
| And when I try to disable it, it says,
| Disabling this rule might cause junk email coloring not to work properly,
| ...
|
| I get tons of junk mail and none of it is colored. I think I need some help
| in configuring this. Where is the criteria for junk mail? I did not define
| any. I have numerous rules I created on my own with dozens of search words.
| I add to them all the time. Am I doing this the hard way?
|
|

 

[Mike]

Thanks, that is the correct version. It is a losing battle. I will look at
all of this. Looking forward to a cleaner work environment.

 

[Mike]

Interesting, and that is the correct version.

based on Outlook 2002 SP3.

Interesting set of criteria, but hardly effective, I agree. I guess these
work in conjunction with the junk email serders list and the adult content
senders list? (also not effective) I see that each is turned on separately.
Outlook. Note that this utility "learns" which is "spam" and which is "ham"
based on existing samples and then as-received in your inbox. Based on this
feature, it helps to have a folder full of "spam" and an equal amount of
"ham" (good mail) to start with.

I will give this a try. Unfortunately, I just deleted 1000+ junk messages,
and also renewed my inbox. But I do have another outlook data file that I
open occasionally with 2000+ good messages.

 

[Snarky Parker]

One other thing to do would be to check the website of your ISP to see if they
offer any e-mail filtering. This is usually optional and must be selected by and
for each user's account. These filters help by catching most of the known
spammers, thereby reducing the amount passed on to you.

| Interesting, and that is the correct version.
|
| > based on Outlook 2002 SP3.
|
| > > See these links:
| > >
| > > Update junk e-mail filters for Outlook
| > > http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010450041033.aspx
| > >
| > > Microsoft Junk E-Mail Filter Readme
| > > http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010450051033.aspx
|
| Interesting set of criteria, but hardly effective, I agree. I guess these
| work in conjunction with the junk email serders list and the adult content
| senders list? (also not effective) I see that each is turned on separately.
|
| > >
| > > http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
| > >
| > > They offer this utility as a plug-in that integrates quite well in
| Outlook. Note that this utility "learns" which is "spam" and which is "ham"
| based on existing samples and then as-received in your inbox. Based on this
| feature, it helps to have a folder full of "spam" and an equal amount of
| "ham" (good mail) to start with.
|
| I will give this a try. Unfortunately, I just deleted 1000+ junk messages,
| and also renewed my inbox. But I do have another outlook data file that I
| open occasionally with 2000+ good messages.
|
|

 

[Mike]

I see you've recommended spambayes to others. I didn't see any responses,
but I have installed it anyway. Here are my observations during
installation, for the benefit of others. It was fairly straight forward, but
I am an expert of various sorts, programmer etc. of ~20 years.

I had unfortunately just deleted 1000+ spam messages, but I managed to find
about 80 to do the initial training. I like to keep all my ham forever so I
showed it 2000+ ham messages. I was able to open another outlook file which
I don't normally keep open. That was good, since I had also just cleaned out
my inbox. So I actually showed it 2 inboxes full of ham. Cool.

It started out very slow, but it seemed to pick up speed. It took about 15
minutes to do the initial training. I have turned off all my home-made
rules. That was a futile struggle anyway. I will report on effectiveness
after a while. It created an extra toolbar in my outlook. It has a special
delete button, Delete as Spam. That's how spambayes it will learn the kinds
of messages I don't like.

 

[Snarky Parker]

I had less than 50 spam messages and over 2200 good messages to use a training
database. The utility performs quite well on even on that unbalanced basis,
having only an occasional spam message squatting in my Inbox awaiting its doom.
Keep in mind that the more common spam messages are being trapped by my ISP
(Earthlink.net).

BTW, I was made aware of this utility in an article by Fred Langa in his
LangaList newsletter. There's a lot of good advice to be found there.

http://www.langa.com/

| I see you've recommended spambayes to others. I didn't see any responses,
| but I have installed it anyway. Here are my observations during
| installation, for the benefit of others. It was fairly straight forward, but
| I am an expert of various sorts, programmer etc. of ~20 years.
|
| I had unfortunately just deleted 1000+ spam messages, but I managed to find
| about 80 to do the initial training. I like to keep all my ham forever so I
| showed it 2000+ ham messages. I was able to open another outlook file which
| I don't normally keep open. That was good, since I had also just cleaned out
| my inbox. So I actually showed it 2 inboxes full of ham. Cool.
|
| It started out very slow, but it seemed to pick up speed. It took about 15
| minutes to do the initial training. I have turned off all my home-made
| rules. That was a futile struggle anyway. I will report on effectiveness
| after a while. It created an extra toolbar in my outlook. It has a special
| delete button, Delete as Spam. That's how spambayes it will learn the kinds
| of messages I don't like.
|
| > | > >
| > | > > http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
| > | > >
| > | > > They offer this utility as a plug-in that integrates quite well in
| > | Outlook. Note that this utility "learns" which is "spam" and which is
| "ham"
| > | based on existing samples and then as-received in your inbox. Based on
| this
| > | feature, it helps to have a folder full of "spam" and an equal amount of
| > | "ham" (good mail) to start with.
| > |
|
|

 

[Mike]

So what about my rules for moving stuff into certain folders? I turned them
off temporarily as well. It should be a no-brainer decision about those
messages being ham (good), but if they don't reside in my inbox, then it
will never know that they are ham, will it?

BTW - i also turned off outlooks own junk email filters and adult content
filters, also futile and ineffective.

 

[Snarky Parker]

I also have rules that move messages to alternate inboxes for two other
accounts, but I assume that SpamBayes gets first dibs....maybe that's not true.
If that's not happening that way and you find spam being moved before it's
filtered, there's an option in SpamBayes to have it look at multiple folders.
Open the SpamBayes manager, then click on the Advanced tab. You can select
additional folders to be filtered along with the Inbox.


| So what about my rules for moving stuff into certain folders? I turned them
| off temporarily as well. It should be a no-brainer decision about those
| messages being ham (good), but if they don't reside in my inbox, then it
| will never know that they are ham, will it?
|
| BTW - i also turned off outlooks own junk email filters and adult content
| filters, also futile and ineffective.
|
| | > I had less than 50 spam messages and over 2200 good messages to use a
| training
| > database. The utility performs quite well on even on that unbalanced
| basis,
| > having only an occasional spam message squatting in my Inbox awaiting its
| doom.
| > Keep in mind that the more common spam messages are being trapped by my
| ISP
| > (Earthlink.net).
| >
| > BTW, I was made aware of this utility in an article by Fred Langa in his
| > LangaList newsletter. There's a lot of good advice to be found there.
| >
| > http://www.langa.com/
| >
| > | > | I see you've recommended spambayes to others. I didn't see any
| responses,
| > | but I have installed it anyway. Here are my observations during
| > | installation, for the benefit of others. It was fairly straight forward,
| but
| > | I am an expert of various sorts, programmer etc. of ~20 years.
| > |
| > | I had unfortunately just deleted 1000+ spam messages, but I managed to
| find
| > | about 80 to do the initial training. I like to keep all my ham forever
| so I
| > | showed it 2000+ ham messages. I was able to open another outlook file
| which
| > | I don't normally keep open. That was good, since I had also just cleaned
| out
| > | my inbox. So I actually showed it 2 inboxes full of ham. Cool.
| > |
| > | It started out very slow, but it seemed to pick up speed. It took about
| 15
| > | minutes to do the initial training. I have turned off all my home-made
| > | rules. That was a futile struggle anyway. I will report on
| effectiveness
| > | after a while. It created an extra toolbar in my outlook. It has a
| special
| > | delete button, Delete as Spam. That's how spambayes it will learn the
| kinds
| > | of messages I don't like.
| > |
| > | > | > >
| > | > | > > http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
| > | > | > >
| > | > | > > They offer this utility as a plug-in that integrates quite well
| in
| > | > | Outlook. Note that this utility "learns" which is "spam" and which
| is
| > | "ham"
| > | > | based on existing samples and then as-received in your inbox. Based
| on
| > | this
| > | > | feature, it helps to have a folder full of "spam" and an equal
| amount of
| > | > | "ham" (good mail) to start with.
| > | > |
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Mike]

I'm sold! SpamBayes is great! When it comes to passing your email address
around in the wrong places, I'm one of the worst offenders. And I've had the
same address for about 5 years. I just counted an average of 75 junk
messages per day being routed automatically to a junk folder that I never
have to look at (but I can if I wish to). That leaves me with 2 or 3
messages per day to deal with, and that's just so SpamBayes can keep
learning what to watch for, as my junk mail evolves and transforms from day
to day.