Published April 2002

Tools are out there to filter spam from electronic mailbox

Unfortunately, electronic mail over the Internet — for all its marvelous usefulness in the business world — is fast becoming a giant liability that demands better management.

All users recognize the main advantages: providing amazingly fast, simple and low-cost global communications.

But each day the positive aspects of e-mail are being eroded by spam — from the annoying promotions for legitimate businesses, services and products to spam-scams that rip people off and embarrassing pornography pitches with repulsive language and images.

Internet research firms estimate spam messages accounted for 25 percent of the billions of e-mails sent in 2001. Spam e-mails have been involved in anti-harassment lawsuits against employers. Waves of spam once shut down AT&T WorldNet’s servers. Even just deleting each day’s spam reduces employee productivity.

But there is help available. Along with off-the-shelf filtering software for offices and homes, users of Microsoft Outlook can set up a variety of filters to block spam and pornography by using the “Tools-Rule Wizard” to screen out unwanted messages.

Also, Verizon Online now provides its customers a new, free anti-spam weapon — Brightmail’s Spam Detector software — that sweeps e-mail boxes and moves suspected spam into a separate e-mail folder on Verizon’s server instead of the customer’s hard drive. More than 90 percent of Verizon Online’s customers have opted to use Spam Detector.

Giving up e-mail in today’s fast-paced business world isn’t an option for most people. But you can begin taking more precautions. Now.

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