[TriLUG] Fw: Spam filtering in Mail.app for beginners

[al johson]

Thought everyone might be able to use the following suggestions for dealing
with Spam email. It seems that three simple filters, allegedly, will get rid
of most spam. Feel free to add other suggestions to these three rules.--Al
Johnson.
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Subject: Spam filtering in Mail.app for beginners


Spam filtering in Mail.app for beginners
Tue, Jun 18 '02 at 09:35PM • from: dennisbest I recently followed a hint
here to enable some robust UNIX spam filtering options (spambouncer,
etc.) and have been delighted with the results. Unfortunately, the
instructions are a little complicated for novice users to employ. So I
began looking at how people like my Mother can use the very basic
filters in Mail.app to block spam.

Read the rest of the article for some ideas on how to use rules to help
filter spam from your inbox...

While Mail's filtering options are rudimentary, there are three very
simple rules you can set to block most spam. I'm sure others have
suggestions but here's a quick solution:

    1. Create a new Mailbox called "Junk"
    2. Create a new Mailbox called "Subscriptions"
    3. In Mail's preferences create three simple rules:

       Rule 1:
       Criteria: TO or CC: DOES NOT CONTAIN: "enter part of your domain
name"
       Action: Move to folder: Junk

       Rule 2:
       Criteria: Body: CONTAINS: unsub
       Action: Move to folder: Junk

       Rule 3:
       Criteria: Body: CONTAINS: click here
       Action: Move to folder: Junk

If you subscribe to lists or newsletters, just add filters to move those
mails to your Subscriptions Mailbox. Drag these rules above the spam
filters in the Rules list so that they occur prior to spam filtering.
For example:

Rule:
Criteria: From: CONTAINS: versiontracker
Action: Move to folder: Subscriptions

Now just peek in your Junk Mailbox every now and then and delete. Look
in your Subscriptions Mailbox for newsletters and such.

The first rule blocks a ton of junk because spammers don't usually
include a legitimate TO: header. It is also unlikely that your friends
or co-workers will give you a chance to 'unsubscribe' to their emails.
It is conceivable that a friend could send you an email to telling you
to "click here", but we are about simplicity here.

While not perfect, these rules seem to have stemmed the tide of spam for
others with whom I have shared this hint. It is also easier than
blocking specific subjects as you don't have to create a hundred
different rules with words like "rape" and "porn", etc.

Now I can hold out for the improved filters in OS 10.2. (aka Jaguar).