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How to Set Up Spam Filters in Outlook Express 4.5 for Macintosh

Unsolicited junk email is known as "spam." Many email programs allow you to set up "filters" to block spam from reaching your mailbox. There are many ways to set up spam filters. The following instructions give you an idea of how to delete spam based on criteria you set in your software.

Please note that no filtering scheme is perfect; some spam may get through, and you always run the risk of deleting messages that you want to receive. You should test your spam filters by sending email to yourself, and by having email sent to you from other addresses.

1) Launch Outlook Express. Under the "Tools" menu, choose "Mail Rules. Click on "New Rule".

2) In the "Define Mail Rule" window, check the box next to "Apply To Incoming".

In the "Criteria" section: if filtering by sender, skip to step 2a If filtering by subject, skip to step 2b. If filtering by text in body of message, skip to step 2.c

2a) If filtering by the person sending the message, use the drop-down menu for the first field to choose "Sender". Repeat in second field to select "Contains". In the third field enter the email address of the sender you wish to block. Go to step 6.

2b) If filtering by subject, use drop-down menu to choose "Subject". Repeat with second field to choose "Contains". In third field enter the subject line you wish to filter. Go to step 6.

2c) If filtering by the text in the body of the message, use the drop-down menu for the first field to select "Message Body". Repeat in second field to select "Contains". In the third field enter the text you wish to avoid receiving. Go to step 5.

3) At "Execute Actions If", use the drop-down menu to choose "any criteria are met."

4) Under "Actions, choose "Delete Message".

5) Click n OK to close the "Define Mail Rule" window.

6) Close Mail Rules Window

7) Under the "Edit" menu in Outlook Express, choose "Preferences".

8) In the "Preferences" window open "Outlook Express" by clicking on the triangle next to it. Select "Startup and Quit".

9) Under "Quit Settings" place a check in the box next to "Empty Deleted Messages Folder".

10) Click OK to close the "Preferences" window.

Cruzio provides these instructions as a service to our users. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve these, please send email to support@cruzio.com

©2002 Cruzio (revised 02/19/02)