Information on Spam Filters

Block spam email with a spam filter.

Spam is unsolicited, unwanted email. A spam filter is a software program that scans incoming email, identifies possible spam messages, then flags or blocks the emails from delivery.

Spam Filter Installation

Spam filters can be installed on private network servers, Internet mail servers and personal computers.

Spam Parameters

Spam filters review email parameters.

A spam filter reviews a number of email parameters to determine whether the email might be spam. The parameters include email subject lines, verbiage, punctuation, attachments, images and the sender or source of the email.

Common Spam Triggers

Some of the most common spam triggers include using all capital letters, using excessive exclamation points, using colored fonts and using the word "test" in the subject line. Emails with content focused on pharmaceuticals or pornography also are commonly flagged.

Spam Disposal

Spam may be flagged or filtered.

A spam filter may flag an email with a color or label, then deliver it to the user's inbox as "possible spam." Spam filters may also prevent the email from reaching an inbox and deliver it to a separate spam folder.

Benefits of Blocking Spam

Spam filters help improve the productivity of email users, thwart scams and prevent computer exposure to viruses.

Popular Spam Filters

Popular spam filters include Norton Internet Security, SPAMfighter Standard and iHateSpam.

References

• Mail Chimp: Most Common Spam Filter Triggers
• Mail Chimp: How Spam Filters Think
• All Spammed Up: Anti-spam and Spam Filtering Techniques
• PC Magazine: Antispam Reviews and Price Comparisons