Message rules!

[JCW]

I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn I
seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step by
step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I have
children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new DSL
connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
JCW

[Christopher Macgowan]

In my view you will never reduce unwanted e-mail significantly through rules
because the senders are forever changing their source address and content
rendering your carefully thought through rule obsolete. You need to either
use the Microsoft inbuilt spam reducer or get in touch with someone like
http://www.cloudmark.com which specialises in spam blocking software. It
depends on what e-mail system you are using and you may have to search
around a bit to find something to suit but, honestly!, there is stuff out
there to help.

I'm afraid your e-mail address gets picked up pretty quickly from powerful
scanning software - a bit like unwanted faxes arrive as if by magic on a fax
machine simply because there is software around which scans millions of
connected phone lines and stops at a fax line.

You sound as if you may not have got one of the well known anti-virus
software programmes installed and if you have not you must do so.
http://www.symantic.com might be a place to start.

Hope some of this helps.






Christopher Macgowan

London, UK.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Christopher Macgowan]

In my view you will never reduce unwanted e-mail significantly through rules
because the senders are forever changing their source address and content
rendering your carefully thought through rule obsolete. You need to either
use the Microsoft inbuilt spam reducer or get in touch with someone like
http://www.cloudmark.com which specialises in spam blocking software. It
depends on what e-mail system you are using and you may have to search
around a bit to find something to suit but, honestly!, there is stuff out
there to help.

I'm afraid your e-mail address gets picked up pretty quickly from powerful
scanning software - a bit like unwanted faxes arrive as if by magic on a fax
machine simply because there is software around which scans millions of
connected phone lines and stops at a fax line.

You sound as if you may not have got one of the well known anti-virus
software programmes installed and if you have not you must do so.
http://www.symantic.com might be a place to start.

Hope some of this helps.






Christopher Macgowan

London, UK.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Jim Macklin]

You can't write one or even a dozen rules because the porn
spammers change their words and such all the time.
One, on broadband you must run a firewall, XPs built in
firewall will block people trying to get in to do things (it
must be turned ON, off is the default) or better run a
firewall that blocks traffic in and out such as Zone Alarm
www.zonelabs.com .

Get a software email filter such as SpamCop and get SpyBot
and Ad-Aware to help with the browser side.

Do a search on Google www.google.com for spam filters and
you'll find a lot.

Message rules are best for sorting email from regular
accounts and friends into folders.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
| I have tried to write several message rules to stop the
inundation of porn I
| seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can
someone tell me "step by
| step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be
grateful. I have
| children and I really don't want them subjected to that
filth. BTW, I have
| written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with
the same issue?
| Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email
address. This is new DSL
| connection with a completely new address. Any help would
be appreciated.
|
| Thanks
| JCW
|
|

[Jim Macklin]

You can't write one or even a dozen rules because the porn
spammers change their words and such all the time.
One, on broadband you must run a firewall, XPs built in
firewall will block people trying to get in to do things (it
must be turned ON, off is the default) or better run a
firewall that blocks traffic in and out such as Zone Alarm
www.zonelabs.com .

Get a software email filter such as SpamCop and get SpyBot
and Ad-Aware to help with the browser side.

Do a search on Google www.google.com for spam filters and
you'll find a lot.

Message rules are best for sorting email from regular
accounts and friends into folders.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
| I have tried to write several message rules to stop the
inundation of porn I
| seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can
someone tell me "step by
| step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be
grateful. I have
| children and I really don't want them subjected to that
filth. BTW, I have
| written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with
the same issue?
| Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email
address. This is new DSL
| connection with a completely new address. Any help would
be appreciated.
|
| Thanks
| JCW
|
|

[Qoth the Raven]

I have started running a free program called Mailwasher (you can find it
readily in a Google search). It does not stop the stuff coming in but allows
me to delete and bounce back before it is sent to my e-mail program. There
is some satisfaction in this. Additionally, it allows you to slowly but
surely build up a "friends" and "foes" list. Not a complete answer but I,
childishly, enjoy sending all the messages back.
"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Qoth the Raven]

I have started running a free program called Mailwasher (you can find it
readily in a Google search). It does not stop the stuff coming in but allows
me to delete and bounce back before it is sent to my e-mail program. There
is some satisfaction in this. Additionally, it allows you to slowly but
surely build up a "friends" and "foes" list. Not a complete answer but I,
childishly, enjoy sending all the messages back.
"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[JCW]

Hello,
I use Norton System Works Professional Version 2003 and keep it up to date
religiously. I use Outlook Express 6. What is the Microsoft Inbuilt Spam
reducer you refer to and where is it? Thanks for the response
JCW
"Christopher Macgowan" > wrote in message
...
> In my view you will never reduce unwanted e-mail significantly through
rules
> because the senders are forever changing their source address and content
> rendering your carefully thought through rule obsolete. You need to either
> use the Microsoft inbuilt spam reducer or get in touch with someone like
> http://www.cloudmark.com which specialises in spam blocking software. It
> depends on what e-mail system you are using and you may have to search
> around a bit to find something to suit but, honestly!, there is stuff out
> there to help.
>
> I'm afraid your e-mail address gets picked up pretty quickly from powerful
> scanning software - a bit like unwanted faxes arrive as if by magic on a
fax
> machine simply because there is software around which scans millions of
> connected phone lines and stops at a fax line.
>
> You sound as if you may not have got one of the well known anti-virus
> software programmes installed and if you have not you must do so.
> http://www.symantic.com might be a place to start.
>
> Hope some of this helps.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Christopher Macgowan
>
> London, UK.
>
>
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
porn
> I
> > seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
"step
> by
> > step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> > children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
have
> > written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
issue?
> > Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
> DSL
> > connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > JCW
> >
> >
>
>

[JCW]

Hello,
I use Norton System Works Professional Version 2003 and keep it up to date
religiously. I use Outlook Express 6. What is the Microsoft Inbuilt Spam
reducer you refer to and where is it? Thanks for the response
JCW
"Christopher Macgowan" > wrote in message
...
> In my view you will never reduce unwanted e-mail significantly through
rules
> because the senders are forever changing their source address and content
> rendering your carefully thought through rule obsolete. You need to either
> use the Microsoft inbuilt spam reducer or get in touch with someone like
> http://www.cloudmark.com which specialises in spam blocking software. It
> depends on what e-mail system you are using and you may have to search
> around a bit to find something to suit but, honestly!, there is stuff out
> there to help.
>
> I'm afraid your e-mail address gets picked up pretty quickly from powerful
> scanning software - a bit like unwanted faxes arrive as if by magic on a
fax
> machine simply because there is software around which scans millions of
> connected phone lines and stops at a fax line.
>
> You sound as if you may not have got one of the well known anti-virus
> software programmes installed and if you have not you must do so.
> http://www.symantic.com might be a place to start.
>
> Hope some of this helps.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Christopher Macgowan
>
> London, UK.
>
>
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
porn
> I
> > seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
"step
> by
> > step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> > children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
have
> > written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
issue?
> > Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
> DSL
> > connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > JCW
> >
> >
>
>

[JCW]

I have the Windows firewall enabled and I am using ZoneAlarm also and I
understand what you say about changing words etc. I'll take your advise and
see what I can find. Thanks
JCW
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
...
> You can't write one or even a dozen rules because the porn
> spammers change their words and such all the time.
> One, on broadband you must run a firewall, XPs built in
> firewall will block people trying to get in to do things (it
> must be turned ON, off is the default) or better run a
> firewall that blocks traffic in and out such as Zone Alarm
> www.zonelabs.com .
>
> Get a software email filter such as SpamCop and get SpyBot
> and Ad-Aware to help with the browser side.
>
> Do a search on Google www.google.com for spam filters and
> you'll find a lot.
>
> Message rules are best for sorting email from regular
> accounts and friends into folders.
>
>
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> | I have tried to write several message rules to stop the
> inundation of porn I
> | seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can
> someone tell me "step by
> | step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be
> grateful. I have
> | children and I really don't want them subjected to that
> filth. BTW, I have
> | written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with
> the same issue?
> | Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email
> address. This is new DSL
> | connection with a completely new address. Any help would
> be appreciated.
> |
> | Thanks
> | JCW
> |
> |
>
>

[JCW]

I have the Windows firewall enabled and I am using ZoneAlarm also and I
understand what you say about changing words etc. I'll take your advise and
see what I can find. Thanks
JCW
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
...
> You can't write one or even a dozen rules because the porn
> spammers change their words and such all the time.
> One, on broadband you must run a firewall, XPs built in
> firewall will block people trying to get in to do things (it
> must be turned ON, off is the default) or better run a
> firewall that blocks traffic in and out such as Zone Alarm
> www.zonelabs.com .
>
> Get a software email filter such as SpamCop and get SpyBot
> and Ad-Aware to help with the browser side.
>
> Do a search on Google www.google.com for spam filters and
> you'll find a lot.
>
> Message rules are best for sorting email from regular
> accounts and friends into folders.
>
>
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> | I have tried to write several message rules to stop the
> inundation of porn I
> | seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can
> someone tell me "step by
> | step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be
> grateful. I have
> | children and I really don't want them subjected to that
> filth. BTW, I have
> | written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with
> the same issue?
> | Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email
> address. This is new DSL
> | connection with a completely new address. Any help would
> be appreciated.
> |
> | Thanks
> | JCW
> |
> |
>
>

[JCW]

Right, I started using Mailwasher and I guess I'll just have to be patient
until I get a good list built up. Thanks All for the help
JCW
"Qoth the Raven" > wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
> I have started running a free program called Mailwasher (you can find it
> readily in a Google search). It does not stop the stuff coming in but
allows
> me to delete and bounce back before it is sent to my e-mail program. There
> is some satisfaction in this. Additionally, it allows you to slowly but
> surely build up a "friends" and "foes" list. Not a complete answer but I,
> childishly, enjoy sending all the messages back.
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
porn
> I
> > seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
"step
> by
> > step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> > children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
have
> > written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
issue?
> > Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
> DSL
> > connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > JCW
> >
> >
>
>

[JCW]

Right, I started using Mailwasher and I guess I'll just have to be patient
until I get a good list built up. Thanks All for the help
JCW
"Qoth the Raven" > wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
> I have started running a free program called Mailwasher (you can find it
> readily in a Google search). It does not stop the stuff coming in but
allows
> me to delete and bounce back before it is sent to my e-mail program. There
> is some satisfaction in this. Additionally, it allows you to slowly but
> surely build up a "friends" and "foes" list. Not a complete answer but I,
> childishly, enjoy sending all the messages back.
> "JCW" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
porn
> I
> > seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
"step
> by
> > step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> > children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
have
> > written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
issue?
> > Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
> DSL
> > connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
> > JCW
> >
> >
>
>

[Saverio Mercurio]

Take a look at the May 2003 issue of PC World. It has an article on
anti-SPAM software, which is what you really need.

--
Saverio Mercurio

NOTE: My email address has been purposefully altered to thwart mailing list
harvesters.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Saverio Mercurio]

Take a look at the May 2003 issue of PC World. It has an article on
anti-SPAM software, which is what you really need.

--
Saverio Mercurio

NOTE: My email address has been purposefully altered to thwart mailing list
harvesters.


"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn
I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step
by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new
DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

There is only one way that blocks spam effectively using OE rules. You
have to filter out all desired mail and then discard the rest. An option
to this is to filter out some specific high-volume spam, then filter
mail explicitly to you or from someone else (like a mail list), then
mark as read and delete the rest.

I know this sounds daunting, but you can do it in steps for each of your
email accounts.

Start by moving all mail addressed directly to you (or from one of your
desired correspondents) into another folder, named after you or your
correspondent. Make sure that this filter is working correctly and that
you have "stop processing more rules" selected. Now examine your inbox.
For each piece of mail that you desire to read, create or modify a rule
to capture that mail and move it out of the inbox. After a while, the
volume of inbox mail will reduce to a tolerable level and your rules
will become finely tuned. Your workload will drop accordingly. And your
mail will be nicely sorted into one or more folders that will allow you
to read your email in order of importance or by correspondent or
correspondent group. (Wouldn't it be nice if you could use the address
book to do this?)

Another trick is to use the "create rule from this message" to create a
rule that is based on the From: address. This works for the scheme where
you are sorting based on From: and not To: address. (I think this
technique works best of all.) Lots of rules, but relatively
straightforward technique.

Be sure to use a different disposable address for web sites and use a
munged address in newsgroups.

--
Kent W. England, Microsoft MVP for Windows



"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
> porn I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
> "step by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
> have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
> issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is
> new DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

There is only one way that blocks spam effectively using OE rules. You
have to filter out all desired mail and then discard the rest. An option
to this is to filter out some specific high-volume spam, then filter
mail explicitly to you or from someone else (like a mail list), then
mark as read and delete the rest.

I know this sounds daunting, but you can do it in steps for each of your
email accounts.

Start by moving all mail addressed directly to you (or from one of your
desired correspondents) into another folder, named after you or your
correspondent. Make sure that this filter is working correctly and that
you have "stop processing more rules" selected. Now examine your inbox.
For each piece of mail that you desire to read, create or modify a rule
to capture that mail and move it out of the inbox. After a while, the
volume of inbox mail will reduce to a tolerable level and your rules
will become finely tuned. Your workload will drop accordingly. And your
mail will be nicely sorted into one or more folders that will allow you
to read your email in order of importance or by correspondent or
correspondent group. (Wouldn't it be nice if you could use the address
book to do this?)

Another trick is to use the "create rule from this message" to create a
rule that is based on the From: address. This works for the scheme where
you are sorting based on From: and not To: address. (I think this
technique works best of all.) Lots of rules, but relatively
straightforward technique.

Be sure to use a different disposable address for web sites and use a
munged address in newsgroups.

--
Kent W. England, Microsoft MVP for Windows



"JCW" > wrote in message
...
> I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of
> porn I
> seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me
> "step by
> step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I
> have
> children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I
> have
> written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same
> issue?
> Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is
> new DSL
> connection with a completely new address. Any help would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> JCW
>
>

[David]

Very straightforward to set a "rule" in Outlook Express.

I set up my first rule to look at mail FROM and MOVE it TO the
specifed folder.

In the From selection, I select my entire address book.

I have a folder called "unknown mail".

The rule continues, Send it to the unknown mail folder.

I select my entire address book and use the option selection under the
people selection to choose "Message does NOT contain the people
below".

That way the only messages in my inbox are from the people in my
address book. All others go to the unknown mail folder.

David

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 23:30:21 -0700, "JCW" >
wrote:

>I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn I
>seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step by
>step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I have
>children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
>written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
>Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new DSL
>connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>JCW
>

[David]

Very straightforward to set a "rule" in Outlook Express.

I set up my first rule to look at mail FROM and MOVE it TO the
specifed folder.

In the From selection, I select my entire address book.

I have a folder called "unknown mail".

The rule continues, Send it to the unknown mail folder.

I select my entire address book and use the option selection under the
people selection to choose "Message does NOT contain the people
below".

That way the only messages in my inbox are from the people in my
address book. All others go to the unknown mail folder.

David

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003 23:30:21 -0700, "JCW" >
wrote:

>I have tried to write several message rules to stop the inundation of porn I
>seem to be getting but they aren't stopping it. Can someone tell me "step by
>step" what to write and how to Apply the rules? I would be grateful. I have
>children and I really don't want them subjected to that filth. BTW, I have
>written a total of 9 rules. Is that too many dealing with the same issue?
>Also, I don't know how they are getting to my email address. This is new DSL
>connection with a completely new address. Any help would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>JCW
>