The easiest way to avoid being bothered by unwanted mail is to block it using Message Rules, Mail Rules or Filters within the preferences of your email program. The following example is for setting Message Rules in Outlook Express. Most email programs will function similarly, but may use slightly different terminolgy.
- Launch the email program. Go to the top toolbar to TOOLS.
Scroll down to Message Rules --> Block Sender's List
A window will pop up where you can ADD email addresses or domain names from whom you want to block any incoming mail. *Keep in mind if you block the domain yahoo.com, for example, you will be blocking all mail coming from that domain, including any friends who have a yahoo address. If you block a specific email address, only that sender's email will be automatically deleted when you download your mail
- To filter your mail more effectively, you will also need to set up Mail Rules. You'll find this in the same area:
Tools -->Message Rules -->Mail
A new window will open listing any mail rules that you have set up.
Click NEW to add a new rule.
A window pops up for you to set your rules.
Set the condition for #1: click the second checkbox: "Where the subject line contains specific words", then click on the box for delete in #2.
#3 is the actual rule you are setting. Click on the underlined "contains specific words" and another window pops up. Type the word 'viagra', for instance, into the top field and click on ADD, then OK. (You can name your Rules in field #4 for future reference of which rules you've already set.)
Click OK on this window and your rule is set. Any incoming email containing the specific word(s) that you set in your rule will automatically be deleted from your inbox.
(FYI: You do need to set a new rule for each subject because rules look at the subject line to meet all the words listed in your rule, so don't just type a string of words into one rule - like: inkjet, free ink, viagra, free travel into one rule. Each of these 4 need to be set as separate rules.)
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