Filtering Email Spam With Netscape
Netscape's Built In Message Filters
Spam or unsolicited commercial email (UCE) is part and parcel of the internet. No matter what you do, you will, sooner or later, get spam. The following is a guide to setting up mail filters so that spam becomes less of a problem and doesn't clutter up your inbox.
Filtering on content (subject) and/or the sender with spam is very problematic. Spammers don't always use certain words or subject lines, and they change addresses frequently, so trying to filter on subject and/or sender is simply an exercise in futility, the spammer changes the subject or his address, and you get the spam again. However, most (99 percent) of email spam IS sent out using the BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) function of addressing, which suppresses the list of addressees (so you don't see a list of everyone else the spammer is sending to - you just get it). So, the first part of the guide below will set up a filter so that this type of spam (99 percent of email spam) is shunted to a folder, from which you can delete it or send in abuse reports.
Why don't you simply delete it? Because this filter will also catch any newsletter or mailing list you have subscribed to, most of which also use the BCC function. The folder allows you to rescue any newsletter or mailing list, and then create a filter for THAT specific newsletter or mailing list, so it doesn't go to the spam folder. Note: these filters will have to be listed BEFORE the spam filter to be effective, but you can re-order the message filter list to suit.
The Spam Filter
Netscape running, Edit --> Message FiltersThat's it.
In the top left of the window ensure that the listing is [Inbox]. This ensures your are setting filters for your mail you will see a list of any previous filter you have set up.Click on [New]
Type a name for the filter -->Spam
Click on the enable button (checkmark)
Type in a description of the filter purpose if you wish
Filter Action: set the filter so it reads
[if to or cc] [doesn't contain] [you]*-->Then [move to folder] [Spam] ** ________________________________________________
* you is your email address (you can use just the portion to the left of the @ symbol if you wish).** If you need to create a new folder click on [New Folder] and create one named Spam as a subfolder of local mail
Now all we have to do is prevent your newsletters and mailing lists from going to the spam folder. To do this you will need a copy of the newsletter or mailing list so you can get the SENDERS email. Armed with this it is simple to set up a filter:Do the same for each newsletter/mailing list you subscribe to (you only have to do it once for each).Click on [New]
Type a name for the filter -->Name of mailing list/newsletter
Click on the enable button (checkmark)
Type in a description of the filter purpose if you wish
Filter Action: set the filter so it reads
[sender] [contains] [them]*--> Then [move to folder] [Pubs]** ________________________________________________
* them is the email address that sends out the newsletter or mailing list you will need a separate filter for each newsletter/mailing list unless they come from the same address.** If you need to create a new folder click on [New Folder] and create one named Pubs as a subfolder of local mail
Oops! Now your newsletter/mailing list filter (s) comes after the spam one! This is not suitable as it would never be seen, so grab the newsletter/mailing list filter in the list and drag it up so it comes BEFORE the Spam one.
There you have it. Your newsletters and mailing lists are sorted out to a folder, and any other that are sent to you using BCC are sent to the spam folder. Leaving just the mail specifically addressed to you (in to or cc) in your inbox.
Periodically review the spam folder, especially in the first month, to ensure you have 'caught' all your newsletters and/or mailing lists, so you can create a filter for each. After review of the spam folder you can delete the contents (without reading them) or you can use them as a basis for sending abuse reports and having the spammers account closed.
