| Spam is flooding inboxes, message boards, | | | | increased costs for data storage and handling. |
| newsgroups, user comments, etc with the same | | | | The second method to stop spam is to contract with |
| message(s). The message is usually commercial | | | | a third party organization. Using this method all email |
| advertising for quasi-legal products and services. | | | | is directed to the third party's spam filter. Unsolicited |
| Spam is lucrative because it costs the spammer little | | | | bulk mail (spam) is deleted and the clean mail is |
| money to send. The brunt of the cost is borne by | | | | redirected to the organization's recipient. In order for |
| the recipients or carriers instead of the sender. | | | | the organization's mail to go to the third party their |
| Email spam that is targeted at individual users can be | | | | MX (mail exchange) record must be changed at the |
| more than just an annoyance. Spammers can | | | | Domain Name System (DNS). |
| distribute viruses through email messages sent to | | | | The third method is to install a spam filter on your |
| your inbox. | | | | local computer. The majority of email clients can be |
| There are several ways to stop spam. We have | | | | configured to filter spam. Some of the configurations |
| outlined four methods here. | | | | typically include: |
| The first method for an organization is to install a | | | | - Blacklist Senders This configuration blocks a list of |
| corporate spam filter. | | | | senders. Databases of blacklists are available on the |
| A corporate spam filter is installed on the receiving | | | | Internet. |
| email server. There are two options for installing a | | | | - Whitelist Senders This configuration allows the |
| corporate spam filter: | | | | recipient to enter a list of email addresses that are |
| - Install a spam filter with the SMTP server The | | | | allowed to pass thru. All others are sent to the junk |
| SMTP protocol is for sending email SMTP. This is the | | | | email folder. |
| most direct and easiest method for installing a spam | | | | - Block Top Level Domain Some spam filters can be |
| filter. The filter is installed on Port 25 where it | | | | configured to block email from regions and even |
| inspects incoming email messages and then passes | | | | entire continents known for distributing spam such as |
| them on to the SMTP server that is listening on | | | | Eastern Europe. |
| another port. The SMTP server then sends the | | | | The final method is to install a separate spam filtering |
| message to the POP3 server, which forwards it to | | | | software. The software works with your email client |
| the email recipient. | | | | to eliminate junk mail. This software may need to be |
| - Install a spam filter with the POP3 server The POP3 | | | | "trained" meaning that the user must identify the |
| protocol is for retrieving email. When a spam filter is | | | | unsolicited messages they receive as spam. The |
| installed on the POP3 server, email messages must | | | | filtering software then uses the characteristics of the |
| still pass through the SMTP server. This may cause | | | | spam messages to identify and block unwanted email. |