Spam FAQ

How do spam filters work?
How do spammers get my email address in the first place?
How do I know a spam filter won't block emails I really want?
I have a Hotmail account. How do I handle spam with it?
What about the free spam products I see advertised. Are they just as good?
Isn't it just as easy to get a new email address?
How do I use the filter if I am accessing my email from different computers or locations?
How will I know when my filter blocks an email that I want?

How do spam filters work?
Each different anti-spam filter uses some similar but mostly different techniques to filter spam emails. It would take many pages to explain each technique that anti-spam software programs use. When researching these products, you will find a detailed explanation with the product.
How do spammers get my email address in the first place?
There is a large number of ways for spammers to get email addresses. From simple ways like forms, web pages, mailing lists, chat rooms, web browsers, profiles, people finders, and even by guessing. Other spammers go as far as hacking into sites and scamming mailing lists with tricky techniques. The most common way is said to be UseNet. People who post on UseNet were frequently and severely spammed. Spammers have some programs that search through the entire site for the @ character and immediately grab the address. How do I know a spam filter won't block emails I really want?
You can't be completely sure that it won't because it does happen time to time. Try to find an anti-spam product with a high rating and good reviews.

I have a Hotmail account. How do I handle spam with it?
Hotmail has a built-in junk mail filter. Otherwise find a filter that is compatible with Hotmail.

What about the free spam products I see advertised. Are they just as good? Some can work as well but it's not likely. It would depend on how much spam you get.

Isn't it just as easy to get a new email address?
Sure, but then you would have to go through the hassle of informing everyone of your new email or changing any profiles or contact listings you may have on the Internet.

How do I use the filter if I am accessing my email from different computers or locations?
Find a server filter that can always be used from any location. If you are constantly only accessing email from the same computer then a filter that installs into your computer will do just fine.

How will I know when my filter blocks an email that I want?
Most anti-spam software filters have a quarantined folder where all the blocked emails are sent to. Browse through it time to time and check to see if there is an important email in there that was blocked.

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