Spam filtering using Outlook & Outlook Express

Outlook
  1. On the UNIX system, edit the file ~/.spamassassin/user_prefs to add these lines at the end of the file: 
        # Rewrite the Subject: field to identify the message as spam
    rewrite_subject 1
  2. Go to Tools → Rules Wizard.
  3. Select your Inbox folder for the "Apply changes to this folder" field.
  4. Click the New button.
  5. Select "Start from a blank rule".
  6. Select "Check messages when they arrive".
  7. Click "Next."
  8. Checkmark the Condition "with specific words in the subject".
  9. Click "specific words" in the Rule description field to edit it. Type ***SPAM*** in the "Specify words or phrases..." field.
  10. Click "Add" and then click "OK".
  11. Click "Next."
  12. Checkmark "move it to the specified folder" from the "What do you want to do..." list.
  13. Click "Specified" in the Rule description field to edit it.
  14. Click "New" to create a new folder.
  15. Type 'Spam' in the Name field
  16. Click in the "Select where to place the folder" field and click INBOX then "OK."
  17. Click "Finish" to create the rule.
  18. Click "OK" to exit.

Outlook Express 6

NOTE: Outlook Express 6 can only filter local folders used by a POP3 protocol connection. If you are using an IMAP protocol connection, you must use another program to filter mail identified as spam (such as procmail).

Built-in Spam Scoring

Microsoft has several methods for dealing with spam messages, depending upon which version of Office you are running. Older versions relied on simple rules to handle filtering. This amounts to little more than mail sorting. This method is no longer an effective method for dealing with spam. You should consider upgrading to the latest version of Outlook.

As of Office 11 (Outlook 2003), Outlook uses similar methods as offered by other clients, though the interface is very different. Outlook will create a Junk E-Mail folder to store suspected spam messages. The Junk E-Mail filter has four settings, the most effective of which is the "high" setting. If you choose high, you should monitor your Junk E-Mail folder regularly.

For more on Outlook Junk E-Mail filters:

Using Junk E-Mail Filtering

If you have any questions please contact the Lab Staff.