5 replies to this topic

[Elizabeth Clare]

So... Since I'm wondering about this, I figure others are wondering too. I know in the world of Tech, new problems AND new solutions are always on the horizon. Thought maybe a "to-go-to" thread on SPAM might be helpful. My questions concern SPAM management for both sbcglobal.net AND aol.com Here are my questions... 1. For reasons unknown, hundreds of SPAM have been appearing daily in the primary sbcglobal.net mailbox. What is first step in stopping this onslaught? 2. Primary aol.com mailbox has a SPAM "filter" of sorts, but it seems to be "leeking". This wasn't a problem before. What is first step to stop this from happening? 3. Valid emails that used to go through are getting "stuck" in SPAM folder. 4. The aol.com mailbox used to adjust for future valid emails from any given address if it was found in spam folder and marked "not spam". It no longer does this. Is there a way to get that function back? 5. Most effective and expediant way to rid mailbox of voluminous amounts of SPAM, without deleting valid and important email? 6. Does an sbcglobal.net account have a feature that can accurately identify SPAM from valid email? Thank you most kindly for any and all help!

[paws]

HI Elizabeth, Once your email addresses are on the spammers list...the number of SPAM emails will start (usually) to increase at a fast rate...the Spam lists are sold on to fellow spammers.... the secret is to not to let the spammers get your email addresses in the first place... The important thing is to keep your email addresses (the important ones) privy to only those of your friends and associates who are reliable, who understand safe computing and who are unlikely to compromise your email position....... For most folks this is a very, very small number of people..... for other folks who you don't have complete confidence in, use a different email address and apply the usual spam filters and or use an ISP that filters out the majority of spam at the central server level..... Google are good at doing this as are BT . So that's how to keep the spammers at bay but how do you protect your existing email addresses?..which I guess is the thrust of your question...... spam filters and filtering security products do a fine job in REDUCING the amount of SPAM but....if you are already getting a lot then creating new email addresses and using those (and keeping them safe and abandoning your old ones is a very quick solution to a very thorny problem. Good luck Regards paws

[Elizabeth Clare]

Hey paws! Thank you so kindly for your response! What is an ISP ? What is a BT ? How do you use Google to help with this problem ? Is there such a thing as purchasing a spam filter for existing mailboxes ? Thanks again !

[paws]

Hi Elizabeth,
ISP = Internet Service Provider
BT + British Telecom
You can use Googlemail (Gmail) to download your emails (They have good built in and free spam filters)

Yes many antivirus/antispyware products have built in spam filters, eg Norton, Mcafee and many others.
There are lots of "stand alone" spam products available, but a good free one (defence against spam) is Mailwasher and this will let you look at emails on the server and delete the spam ones before even downloading them...
here's the link:
http://www.mailwasher.net/
Good luck
Regards
paws

[Elizabeth Clare]

Hey paws !!! Thank you so, so much !!!

[paws]