Spam Filters in Outlook Express (MAC and Windows)

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(Note that every email program that I've ever seen calls filters "filters" except for Microsoft email programs, which call them "rules.")

While Outlook Express for the Mac has rules that are powerful enough to implement all of my "Top Three" rules, Outlook Express for Windows can't do any of them except for whitelisting. Go figure.

Whitelisting

I repeat that it is absolutely essential that you explicitly keep all messages from people whose messages you want. In Outlook Express, this is a tedious on Windows but extremely easy to do on the Mac with version 5.0.4. (If you are using something older than OE 6 on Windows or OE 5.0.4 on the Mac, you should upgrade. There are security weaknesses with earlier versions.)

With Outlook Express for Mac OS:

1. Add the addresses of the people you know and like into your address book if they aren't already`there.
2. Open the rules window by selecting Tools->Rules
3. Click on the tab that says Mail (POP) or Mail (IMAP). (If you don't know whether you use POP or IMAP, you are probably using POP.)
4. Click on the New button at the upper left.
5. Give the rule a name. ("Whitelist" is a good choice here.)
6. Change the menu that says All Messages to From.
7. Change the menu that says Contains to is in address book.
8. Click on OK.

If you are using Outlook Express on Windows:

1. Add the addresses of the people you know and like into your address book if they aren't already`there.
2. Open the rules window by selecting Tools->Message Rules->Mail...
3. Click on the New button at the upper right.
4. In the uppermost pane, put a checkmark in the box labeled Where the From line contains people.
5. Click on people in the bottom pane.
6. Add all the people you know you like, then click OK.
7. In the middle pane, put checkmarks in the boxes labeled Move it to the specified folder and Stop processing more rules. (You'll probably need to scroll down.)
8. Click on specified in the bottom pane and select a folder to put your spam into.
9. Click on OK buttons until the windows are closed.

Embedded Images

To find messages with embedded images using Outlook Express for Mac OS:

1. Do steps 2 through 5 from the Whitelisting filter.
2. Change the menu that says All Messages to Message Body.
3. In the box to the right of Contains, type IMG.
4. Click on OK.
5. Change the menu that says Change color to Move message.
6. Select a folder to move the spam to.
7. Close the window.

I haven't found any word in the English language that contains "IMG" -- except for the city Primghar, Iowa. This filter will mistake any messages that mention Primghar for spam.

No Real Name

To make this rule with Outlook Express for Mac OS:

1. Do steps 2 through 5 from the Whitelisting filter.
2. Change the menu that says All Messages to From
3. Change the menu that says Contains to Does not contain.
4. In the box to the right of Does not contain, type one Space character.
5. Click the plus sign above From and next to Add Criterion.
6. Change the menu next to Execute actions to say if all criteria are met.
7. Change the (new) menu that says Contains to Does not contain.
8. in the box next to the menu you just changed, type aol.com.
9. Click the plus sign above From and next to Add Criterion.
10. Change the (new) menu that says Contains to Does not contain.
11. in the box next to the menu you just changed, type yahoogroups.com.
12. Change the menu that says Change color to Move message.
13. Select a folder to move the spam to.
14. Close the window.

Tracking IDs

To make this rule with Outlook Express for Mac OS:

1. Do steps 2 through 5 from the Whitelisting filter.
2. Change the menu that says All Messages to Subject
3. In the box to the right of Contains, type seven Space characters.
4. Change the menu that says Change color to Move message.
5. Select a folder to move the spam to.
6. Close the window.

These rules won't catch all spam, but they will catch a lot of it -- and they are absolutely free to set up!