Beginning with Outlook 98, you can use built-in junk mail processing, using either the Organize pane or Rules Wizard. However, results can be less than satisfactory, often putting wanted senders into the Junk Mail folder and not ignoring items sent with no From address (usually spam).
I think Sue's low-maintenance method here may work better for many people, requiring a rules update only when you join a new mailing list.
Outlook 2003, 2007 and 2010 include a Junk Email filter. While this filter cannot be updated by the end user, Microsoft releases frequent updates for it. For most users, setting the Junk email filter set to high is good enough, especially if their mail is also scanned by a server side anti-spam filter. If it does not meet your needs, check out the Anti-spam Tools below.
Note: The Junk Email filter in Outlook 2003, 2007 and 2010 runs before Rules Wizard in current versions (with latest service packs installed).
Adding Senders addresses or domains to the blocked lists is an ineffective way of dealing with spam. Because few spammers reuse addresses and the lists hold a limited number of addresses, it fills the lists with addresses that will never be used. for this reason, only use this method to add addresses which send you mail often when you are unable to unsubscribe from the mailing list.
The following articles explain how the Safe and Blocked senders lists work.
Outlook 2003′s Safe and Blocked Senders Lists
Using Outlook’s Blocked and Safe Senders lists
Built-in rules method | Sue’s low maintenance method | Anti-spam Tools | Notes | More Information
Built-in rules method
To use the built-in junk and adult filters, see:
- OL2002 How to Filter Junk and Adult Content E-mail Messages
- OL2000: How to Filter Junk and Adult Content E-Mail
- OL98: How to Filter Junk and Adult Content E-Mail
The built-in rules require constant maintenance to add legitimate senders to the exclusion list or spammers to the junk senders list.
Editing Outlook’s Filters.txt file does not change the way the built-in junk mail filter works. This file is for information only. It is not actively used by Outlook.
Even though the Organize pane suggests that there are updates for the junk filters, no such updates are available.
Also see:
Sue’s low maintenance method
The last four rules in my Rules Wizard list work together to make sure that undesired messages not sent directly to me are diverted to a Junkmail folder. These rules are mostly designed to handle mailing lists that I’ve subscribed to. Some lists work better with a "from people or distribution list" rule, while others are best handled with a "sent to people or distribution list" rule. When I receive the first message from any new mailing list that I’ve subscribed to, I examine the header to figure out whether the From or To address is the one that distinguishes the distribution list; it’s usually easy to tell. Then, I right-click and choose Add to Contacts to add the address to my Contacts folder. (You could also add to the Personal Address Book if you have it in your profile.) This step is crucial to gathering all the addresses for distribution lists into my first two anti-junkmail rules.
I have some separate rules to move messages from a few specific distribution lists into their own folders. Items sent to or from other lists are caught by these two rules and retained in the Inbox:
- Rule#1 – Pre-Junk FROM:
Apply this rule after the message arrives
from people or distribution list (select distribution list addresses from the address book)
move it to the Inbox folder
and stop processing more rules - Rule #2 – Pre-Junk TO:
Apply this rule after the message arrives
to people or distribution list (select distribution list addresses from the address book)
move it to the Inbox folder
and stop processing more rules
Whenever you join a new list, add its To or From address, as appropriate, to one of the above two rules.
The next rule handles mail sent to any of my own personal e-mail addresses (e.g. sue@slipstick.com). I have also put these addresses in Contacts. I find that this rule works more reliably than rules created with the sent directly to me or where my name is in conditions.
- Rule #3 – Pre-Junk TO ME:
Apply this rule after the message arrives
to people or distribution list (select my own addresses from the PAB or Contacts)
move it to the Inbox folder
and stop processing more rules
You may actually need quite a few names in Rule #3. Outlook 97 was very consistent about using the underlying e-mail address, but later versions seem to be sensitive to the display name. Also, in Outlook 2000, you won’t need the "move" action, only the "stop processing" action.
Alternatively in Outlook 2002, you can try replacing the "to" condition with the new "sender is in address book" condition. This means Outlook will look up the address in the address book you specify. Depending on the number of entries in that address book, this condition might run into problems if you receive a lot of mail.
The final rule catches everything else and slaps it into the Junkmail folder, for later review and deletion. Note that it does not include any conditions, only an action and an exception:
- Rule #4 – Move to Junkmail folder :
move it to the Junkmail folder
except if my name is in the To or Cc box
Note that you won’t see a "stop processing more rules" option in Outlook 97, but the "move" action stops processing of the message if you are working in a standalone situation.. However, If you connect to Microsoft Exchange Server with Outlook 97, you need to add a "delete" rule to stop processing on messages that meet the specified condition; otherwise, they drop through and are processed by all the rules.
Client anti-spam tools are listed below. For server-based tools, see Content Control Tools:
Tools in the Spotlight
It is an easy-to-use Microsoft Outlook add-on designed to provide an advanced intelligent protection against junk-mails, viruses, unsolicited emails. The program uses Bayesian filtering technology that identifies about 99% of incoming junk messages. QMailFilter seamlessly integrates into the MS Outlook, scanning all incoming emails. Emails identified as junk are moved to the Junk Email folder. |
Tools
Challenge/response tool also using white lists and black lists. | |
Anti-spam tool scans your contacts and sent and saved messages to build a list of approved senders. Mail from anyone not on that list is routed to a quarantine folder, with the option to send a confirmation query to the sender. You can also add entire domains to the approved senders list. (Formerly Qurb.) | |
Multi-modal anti-spam tool for Outlook 2000. Uses word and regular expression filters, blacklists, whitelists, real-time blackhole lists, Bayesian filters, character set filtering. Works with all kinds of Outlook accounts. Can convert RTF and HTML messages to plain text, remove external image links, and provide access to files that Outlook security blocks. | |
Tool to organize your Outlook mail, learning by example as you sort your mail into customizable categories, such as Spam and Later. Outlook 2000 or later. | |
Anti-spam tool using Bayesian filters that learn as you classify mail, plus white list and black list techniques. Outlook 2000 or 2002. | |
The Junk E-mail Reporting Tool allows you to submit junk e-mail to Microsoft for analysis. When you choose to submit junk e-mail, it will be deleted from your Inbox and sent to FrontBridge, a Microsoft company, for analysis to help improve the effectiveness of FrontBridge's junk e-mail filtering technologies. For Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007. Version 1. | |
Anti-spam tool combining white list, a trainable Bayesian filter, user-defined filters, and other techniques. Automatically builds lists of frequent correspondents and friends. Can run on demand to scan an Exchange Inbox. | |
Utility to organize mail by adding a unique reference to each conversation thread, tracking all messages related to that thread in an indexed database, and filing them to specific location. It "remembers" where you filed mail from specific senders and uses the same folder for new mail from that sender. You can also designate mail from certain senders as bulk mail. Cleans out junk mail on demand. Identifies suspected spam or viruses. Provides reminders for tasks linked to conversations, and sends notifications to SMS, pager, or other mail account. | |
Uses rules and input from other Spamcatcher users to identify junk mail. Allows mail from anyone in your Outlook Contacts folder, and blocks mail from anyone on your Outlook junk senders list. The company also offers a service to filter spam from up to three existing Internet accounts by routing mail through a "shell" account. Can also filter mail for an entire domain. | |
Analyzes messages from POP accounts using whitelist, blacklist, and "intelligent" methods, adding a "spam" label to the subject of suspected junk messages. Can also work with Hotmail and MSN accounts. Blocks popup, pop-under, and banner ads. | |
Free content-classification (e.g. anti-spam) tool for Outlook 2000 or later, using the open-source POPFile classification utility. Methods include Bayesian analysis, whitelist (can import from Outlook contacts), and keyword and regular expression matches. Can monitor any Outlook folder (including PST, Exchange, IMAP, and Hotmail) and handle new items, moving them to other folders, deleting them, marking them as read, or playing an alert. Training mode allows you to set your own definition of spam (or other classifications). Triggers Outlook security prompts during contact import. | |
Anti-spam tool that relies on public DNS blocklists, a private IP address blacklist, and a private IP address whitelist. | |
Permission based and Bayesian logic. Protect your e-mail against spam. Sa4o provides 9 filtering levels - SPF, sender's e-mail address, domain, subject, body content, header content, file attachment type, sender's country and bayesian method. Version 2 include unspecified updates. | |
Anti-spam tool using Bayesian filters, whitelist, blacklist, and challenge queries. Automatically bounces known spam messages back to the sender as if your address didn't exist. Also blocks potentially dangerous attachments. | |
Agnitum 's Spam Terrier features built-in heuristics-based anti-spam tools and collars junk email by training itself. As a user selects what he or she considers spam, Spam Terrier "learns" to identify behavior patterns of spam, instead of relying on users to block specific keywords and phrases. The more you train Spam Terrier, the better its nose gets for inappropriate email. It remembers "spam scores" that classify a message as "not spam," "probable spam" or "definite spam" so that accuracy increases over time. Spam Terrier supports multiple email accounts in both Outlook and Outlook Express and is available in English, German, Spanish, French and Russian. | |
SpamBayes will attempt to classify incoming email messages as 'spam', 'ham' (good, non-spam email) or 'unsure'. This means you can have spam or unsure messages automatically filed away in a different mail folder, where it won't interrupt your email reading. First SpamBayes must be trained by each user to identify spam and ham. Essentially, you show SpamBayes a pile of email that you like (ham) and a pile you don't like (spam). SpamBayes will then analyze the piles for clues as to what makes the spam and ham different. For example; different words, differences in the mailer headers and content style. The system then uses these clues to examine new messages. Open source anti-spam add-in. Version 1.0.4. | |
Anti-spam tool based on peer reporting, blacklist, and whitelist techniques. Can handle any type of Outlook account -- POP, IMAP, Exchange, Hotmail. | |
Learning classifier, Online Clearing, Rulesets powered by SpamAssassin. Stops Phishing requests for personal data with SPF/ CallerID and online clearing. Includes Automated update service. Free for all! No ads, no spyware. Requires Outlook 2000 or higher. SpamIntelligence 1.2 released under the GPL | |
Monitors POP and MAPI accounts to filter out junk mail, hoaxes, foreign-language messages, and other mailbox clutter. "Friends" list allows you to make sure that certain people's messages always get through. | |
Anti-spam tool for POP accounts for Outlook 2000 or later. Uses Bayesian and natural language processing techniques, plus sender white and black lists. Automatically trusts all addresses in the Outlook address book. Analyzes spam by topic and category, allowing you to keep a particular type of information but get rid of the rest. | |
Anti-spam tool based on peer reporting and whitelist techniques, for Outlook 2000 or later. Users can set which folders they want scanned, including IMAP folders. Beta users can continue using that version for free. |
Notes
If you are bothered mainly by messages sent to you in foreign languages, see Foreign spam removal -for suggested characters to use in a Rules Wizard rule.
Another approach is to use Remote Mail in Outlook 97 or Outlook 98/2000 Corporate/Workgroup Mode or modify the send/receive settings in Outlook 2002 to download headers only, then delete any of those "MAKE MONEY FAST" messages and download only those from known senders.
Or, get a third-party program to go through your mail before you let Outlook touch it. Spam-prevention services and tools that aren’t specifically related to Outlook. Most provide either a POP proxy to run on your machine or a separate mailbox to cleanse your mail:
More Information
- How do I view Internet headers? — if you want to know who is sending you junk mail
- Content Control Tools — utilities to stop junk mail at the server level
- Foreign spam removal — suggested characters to use in a rule to eliminate messages sent to you in foreign languages
- Deleting Multiple Junk E-mail Messages in Outlook 2002 — sample VBA code
- Spam a worse problem than viruses
- Outlook 2003′s Safe and Blocked Senders Lists
- Using Outlook’s Blocked and Safe Senders lists
Articles that may interest you:
Last reviewed on Jan 3, 2012
Hi,
My Norton 360 Premium is not compatable with Windows Live.I recently started to get Spam/Junk mail which repeats itself on a daily basis.
Any solution availlable
Peter
Hello Mr. Scott Briggs of Microsoft,
Thanks a lot for your response. Hope to go ahead with your service.
Good Day Sir !!!
How can I make sure that when I click with Norton Anti-Spam that a particular email is “Not Spam” will go the approved senders list for Outlook 2010. Norton is supposed to approve the sender automatically when I click that an email is “not spam.”
Honestly, i would disable the Norton addin. If you are clicking a button in Norton, doesn’t it go on their safe list, not outlooks? (I don’t use norton and only know what others have told me.)