Filtering Spam

What is Spam? Spam is a popular term used to describe Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE). When you get mail from companies or people that you don't know who are trying to sell you things you don't want, that's Spam. Spam "filtering" is the process of separating Spam e-mail from your regular e-mail. There are several methods of filtering that can protect you from being inundated with Spam mail.

Stopping Spam with Blocklists

One method of filtering Spam is to use a blocklist. Blocklists are used at the e-mail server level to block e-mail from known or suspected spammers. Blocklists can be used by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to filter e-mail that passes through its servers. ISPs that offer Spam filtering usually promote it as a benefit of their particular service. Corporate IT departments can also use blocklists with a company's internal e-mail server. The company e-mail server must be configured to use the blocklist service and will then check every incoming message against the list.

Using a blocklist is typically a subscription service and the list is updated regularly with new offenders. Spammers (people who send SPAM) are added to the blocklists by either the sending domain name or the originating IP address. Unfortunately, blocklists have the possibility of filtering out legitimate mail so they generally have an override procedure for unblocking a sender who is not a spammer.

Using Message Rules to Block Unwanted E-Mail

Another method of filtering Spam is to use message rules. Rules can be created in many e-mail applications (such as Microsoft Outlook) to filter messages once they are received in the Inbox. Message rules are created to either allow or disallow e-mail messages that match specific criteria. Some corporate e-mail servers can implement rules to filter mail before it reaches your Inbox. Message rules can be created that allow messages that match a certain criteria or to block messages that meet a certain criteria. Messages that are considered unwanted can be deleted, but are often stored in a "junk mail" folder for later review.

There are also Programs and application add-ins that attempt to handle the Spam filtering without you having to create message rules. These programs either check your e-mail server for Spam (independently of your mail application) or they work within your mail application to filter the Inbox.

Leapfrog SecureMail: A Centrally Managed Approach

Leapfrog's approach to protecting our clients' email is SecureMailSM. Offered in a cost effective monthly format, SecureMailSM not only protects our clients' email systems from Spam but also viruses, worms, and other security risks.

Though there is no "silver bullet" for removing unwanted e-mail from your Inbox, Spam filtering services such as SecureMailSM or programs that manage Inbox message rules, offer an option for removing some (or perhaps most) of the Unsolicited Commercial E-mail that you receive. Services and programs will improve over time and Federal laws may someday provide added relief from Spam, but until then, the Delete key may be your best friend!

Click for more information on SecureMail Spam Protection.

This article originally appeared in the August, 2002 issue of FrogTalk.