How to get rid of Spam Emails Hi, everyone.
How to get rid of Spam Emails Hi, everyone.

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Sign up Today. Spam its the scourge of the century.
Sign up Today. Spam its the scourge of the century.

It seems everybody gets spam.
It seems everybody gets spam.

Everybody fights with spam.
Everybody fights with spam.

Spam is ubiquitous.
Spam is ubiquitous.

It's amazing sometimes to think about what
It's amazing sometimes to think about what

the world would be like if it weren't for spam if spam didn't exist.
the world would be like if it weren't for spam if spam didn't exist.

But it's here and we have to deal with it.
But it's here and we have to deal with it.

So what do you do about it?
So what do you do about it?

Well, if you take away nothing else
Well, if you take away nothing else

from what I'm about to tell you, let it be this, you can't stop spam.
from what I'm about to tell you, let it be this, you can't stop spam.

You cannot prevent people from sending you email.
You cannot prevent people from sending you email.

Period.
Period.

The only thing you can do is manage it,
The only thing you can do is manage it,

and what that means is what happens to it after it arrives.
and what that means is what happens to it after it arrives.

A properly working spam solution works this way.
A properly working spam solution works this way.

All of the email you want shows up in your inbox, all of the email you don't want.
All of the email you want shows up in your inbox, all of the email you don't want.

All of the spam shows up in your spam or junk folder.
All of the spam shows up in your spam or junk folder.

That is a working system.
That is a working system.

And if we could rely on that being 100% accurate all the time, then we'd be done.
And if we could rely on that being 100% accurate all the time, then we'd be done.

Because honestly, you would never look at your junk folder.
Because honestly, you would never look at your junk folder.

You would only look at your inbox and you'd get on with your life.
You would only look at your inbox and you'd get on with your life.

It would be as if spam didn't exist.
It would be as if spam didn't exist.

Unfortunately, things aren't that simple.
Unfortunately, things aren't that simple.

It's a battle.
It's a battle.

It's an ongoing battle.
It's an ongoing battle.

Spammers get better.
Spammers get better.

Spam filters get better. You get the idea.
Spam filters get better. You get the idea.

So sometimes spam makes it into your inbox
So sometimes spam makes it into your inbox

and sometimes legitimate email gets filtered into your spam folder.
and sometimes legitimate email gets filtered into your spam folder.

Here's some of the things you can do to manage the flood,
Here's some of the things you can do to manage the flood,

and that's what it boils down to, not stopping spam but managing it.
and that's what it boils down to, not stopping spam but managing it.

First,
First,

understand that spam filters are our first best line of defense against spam.
understand that spam filters are our first best line of defense against spam.

These are filters that read each email as it comes in looking for spammy topics,
These are filters that read each email as it comes in looking for spammy topics,

spammy phrases, things that would indicate that this
spammy phrases, things that would indicate that this

particular message is in fact unsolicited spam.
particular message is in fact unsolicited spam.

That could be the topic of the email.
That could be the topic of the email.

It could be who it seems to come from.
It could be who it seems to come from.

Information buried in the headers, certain ways of using HTML or rich text
Information buried in the headers, certain ways of using HTML or rich text

messages, email from IP addresses that have a bad reputation for sending spam.
messages, email from IP addresses that have a bad reputation for sending spam.

If anything, that could contribute to this
If anything, that could contribute to this

message being spam counts as a strike against it.
message being spam counts as a strike against it.

It's not absolute.
It's not absolute.

This is not, unfortunately, an exact science.
This is not, unfortunately, an exact science.

So one of the first things that you need
So one of the first things that you need

to do is understand how your spam filter works and how good it is.
to do is understand how your spam filter works and how good it is.

For the most part, what that means is
For the most part, what that means is

ideally selecting an email provider that has a good spam filter to begin with.
ideally selecting an email provider that has a good spam filter to begin with.

This is one of the reasons I use Gmail
This is one of the reasons I use Gmail

because it is currently and has been for several years the best spam filter
because it is currently and has been for several years the best spam filter

that I'm aware of and then training the spam filter.
that I'm aware of and then training the spam filter.

Most spam filters have the option for you
Most spam filters have the option for you

to when a message appears in your inbox market as spam,
to when a message appears in your inbox market as spam,

or when a message that you should have gotten shows up in your spam folder,
or when a message that you should have gotten shows up in your spam folder,

you have the option to say, no, this is not spam.
you have the option to say, no, this is not spam.

This is not junk.
This is not junk.

Doing both of those things is very, very important because
Doing both of those things is very, very important because

in theory it trains the spam filter.
in theory it trains the spam filter.

It tells the spam filter, to me,
It tells the spam filter, to me,

messages that look like this are not spam, or messages that look like this are spam.
messages that look like this are not spam, or messages that look like this are spam.

The bottom line is the spam filter is going to learn more and more of what you
The bottom line is the spam filter is going to learn more and more of what you

consider to be spam and not spam and factor those into its calculations.
consider to be spam and not spam and factor those into its calculations.

It's not absolute.
It's not absolute.

It is one factor of many, which is one of the reasons I say
It is one factor of many, which is one of the reasons I say

repeatedly marking something as spam or not spam just raises the importance
repeatedly marking something as spam or not spam just raises the importance

of your opinion in the complex calculation that goes on when a spam filter works.
of your opinion in the complex calculation that goes on when a spam filter works.

Unfortunately,
Unfortunately,

many other aspects of the email may be so overwhelming that your opinion
many other aspects of the email may be so overwhelming that your opinion

may not count or may not count as much as you think it does.
may not count or may not count as much as you think it does.

That's one of the reasons that I've seen.
That's one of the reasons that I've seen.

People complain that they Mark something
People complain that they Mark something

as spam over and over and over again, and yet it's still showing up in their inbox.
as spam over and over and over again, and yet it's still showing up in their inbox.

Well, there's some other characteristic
Well, there's some other characteristic

of that email that is probably being taken into a higher consideration.
of that email that is probably being taken into a higher consideration.

Keep doing what you're doing eventually.
Keep doing what you're doing eventually.

Hopefully, your opinion will matter more.
Hopefully, your opinion will matter more.

But until that time, these other characteristics
But until that time, these other characteristics

of the messages are kind of overwhelming what it is your opinion might say.
of the messages are kind of overwhelming what it is your opinion might say.

That's especially true of email that shows up in your spam folder.
That's especially true of email that shows up in your spam folder.

Occasionally my newsletter will show up in a spam folder.
Occasionally my newsletter will show up in a spam folder.

Market has not spam.
Market has not spam.

There's some characteristic be it
There's some characteristic be it

the sender, be it some word that I happen to use.
the sender, be it some word that I happen to use.

Be it something that was so
Be it something that was so

I want to say overwhelming,
I want to say overwhelming,

but just enough to tip the scales into the Analyzer, thinking that it's spam
but just enough to tip the scales into the Analyzer, thinking that it's spam

and therefore throwing it into the spam folder.
and therefore throwing it into the spam folder.

So first things first, understand your spam filter, understand how it works.
So first things first, understand your spam filter, understand how it works.

And most important of all,
And most important of all,

understand how to Mark something as spam that shouldn't be in your inbox and how
understand how to Mark something as spam that shouldn't be in your inbox and how

to Mark something as not spam that shows up in your spam folder.
to Mark something as not spam that shows up in your spam folder.

A common technique that many people use
A common technique that many people use

to try to manage spam is to use multiple email addresses.
to try to manage spam is to use multiple email addresses.

This is actually not a bad solution, but again, it's not absolute.
This is actually not a bad solution, but again, it's not absolute.

You will have one primary email address that you guard.
You will have one primary email address that you guard.

You'll hand it out only to individuals that you trust or services that you trust,
You'll hand it out only to individuals that you trust or services that you trust,

and then you will create throwaway email addresses for other things.
and then you will create throwaway email addresses for other things.

So you might, say, make an online purchase
So you might, say, make an online purchase

using one of these throwaway email addresses.
using one of these throwaway email addresses.

And once you start getting spam on that email address, will you stop using it?
And once you start getting spam on that email address, will you stop using it?

The problem is again, it's not absolute.
The problem is again, it's not absolute.

You will get email spam on your primary email address.
You will get email spam on your primary email address.

You just will.
You just will.

If you're not getting spammed today, you're going to get it sooner or later,
If you're not getting spammed today, you're going to get it sooner or later,

even on that most protective email accounts.
even on that most protective email accounts.

One of the reasons, of course,
One of the reasons, of course,

is that those are the email accounts we use app, banks and online services,
is that those are the email accounts we use app, banks and online services,

and those are the places that occasionally get hacked.
and those are the places that occasionally get hacked.

That hack.
That hack.

It may not expose your password,
It may not expose your password,

which is great, but it almost always exposes your email address.
which is great, but it almost always exposes your email address.

All of a sudden, hackers have this nice,
All of a sudden, hackers have this nice,

long list of email addresses to which to send spam.
long list of email addresses to which to send spam.

So it's a fine technique.
So it's a fine technique.

It's just not something I would rest my hopes on being tremendously effective
It's just not something I would rest my hopes on being tremendously effective

when it comes to protecting a primary email address.
when it comes to protecting a primary email address.

Another approach that people use is something called challenge response.
Another approach that people use is something called challenge response.

Now, my bias here is very simple.
Now, my bias here is very simple.

I hate challenge response.
I hate challenge response.

I really don't like it.
I really don't like it.

Here's what it is, and you've probably seen it.
Here's what it is, and you've probably seen it.

If you send an email message to someone that you've never emailed before,
If you send an email message to someone that you've never emailed before,

rather than that message being delivered to them, you will get a message in return.
rather than that message being delivered to them, you will get a message in return.

It's called a challenge.
It's called a challenge.

They will ask you to do something.
They will ask you to do something.

It may be as simple as click a link.
It may be as simple as click a link.

It may be as complicated as solving
It may be as complicated as solving

and capture, but it is something that says,
and capture, but it is something that says,

yes, I'm a real person, and I really intend for this email to go through.
yes, I'm a real person, and I really intend for this email to go through.

Once you've successfully completed that challenge with your response,
Once you've successfully completed that challenge with your response,

then your original email message is finally delivered.
then your original email message is finally delivered.

Now, the good news about Challenge
Now, the good news about Challenge

response is that it's actually quite effective.
response is that it's actually quite effective.

Spammers don't handle the challenge,
Spammers don't handle the challenge,

they just don't, which means that you're not going to get any spam.
they just don't, which means that you're not going to get any spam.

A
A

problem is that you're not going to get a lot of other things as well.
problem is that you're not going to get a lot of other things as well.

People whose email newsletters you might
People whose email newsletters you might

sign up for, they're not going to respond to the challenge.
sign up for, they're not going to respond to the challenge.

If you get email from your bank or
If you get email from your bank or

from any automated system that's important to you, they're not going to respond
from any automated system that's important to you, they're not going to respond

to the challenge, you will have to explicitly allow list
to the challenge, you will have to explicitly allow list

those email addresses, assuming you even know what they are.
those email addresses, assuming you even know what they are.

Now, there are usually additional steps
Now, there are usually additional steps

that you can take to make sure you understand.
that you can take to make sure you understand.

Okay, here's a bunch of email addresses that have been blocked by this.
Okay, here's a bunch of email addresses that have been blocked by this.

Oh, this one should have gone through it's all extra work.
Oh, this one should have gone through it's all extra work.

Maybe you like it.
Maybe you like it.

Maybe you don't. I don't.
Maybe you don't. I don't.

Because to my way of thinking, it places the burden of spam
Because to my way of thinking, it places the burden of spam

on the people who are legitimately trying to send you email.
on the people who are legitimately trying to send you email.

They pay the price where they shouldn't have to.
They pay the price where they shouldn't have to.

So
So

it's something that's out there.
it's something that's out there.

It's not terribly uncommon,
It's not terribly uncommon,

but it's not something that I can honestly, truly recommend.
but it's not something that I can honestly, truly recommend.

Now, there are things called allow and deny lists.
Now, there are things called allow and deny lists.

These are lists that you specify with your email provider.
These are lists that you specify with your email provider.

Each basically does what the name implies.
Each basically does what the name implies.

An allow list is a list of email addresses that should never be sent to spam.
An allow list is a list of email addresses that should never be sent to spam.

If the email comes from that email address.
If the email comes from that email address.

Never send that to spam.
Never send that to spam.

Similarly, if an email address is
Similarly, if an email address is

on a block list, that email should never go into your inbox,
on a block list, that email should never go into your inbox,

it may go automatically to spam, or it may just not be delivered at all.
it may go automatically to spam, or it may just not be delivered at all.

But being on a block list means email
But being on a block list means email

from that address should never show up in your inbox one way or another.
from that address should never show up in your inbox one way or another.

The problem with email block lists, especially, is that spammers know this,
The problem with email block lists, especially, is that spammers know this,

they never send their message from the same email address twice.
they never send their message from the same email address twice.

That's what botnets are for.
That's what botnets are for.

They send email addresses
They send email addresses

from spoofed email addresses, with everyone being different.
from spoofed email addresses, with everyone being different.

So the fact that you blocked one email address doesn't mean you're going to have
So the fact that you blocked one email address doesn't mean you're going to have

any impact on the wave of spam that seems to be headed your way,
any impact on the wave of spam that seems to be headed your way,

because they're all going to be coming from different addresses.
because they're all going to be coming from different addresses.

It just doesn't work anymore.
It just doesn't work anymore.

Used to it used to, it was fine, but it just doesn't work anymore.
Used to it used to, it was fine, but it just doesn't work anymore.

Allow lists are a little bit better in the sense that yeah,
Allow lists are a little bit better in the sense that yeah,

sometimes if someone for whatever reason, maybe they happen to use an email service
sometimes if someone for whatever reason, maybe they happen to use an email service

with a bad reputation, or they consistently talk about topics
with a bad reputation, or they consistently talk about topics

that would potentially be considered spammy.
that would potentially be considered spammy.

By putting them on an allow list,
By putting them on an allow list,

you'll at least allow them to bypass the whole spam detection algorithm.
you'll at least allow them to bypass the whole spam detection algorithm.

If your service even has an allow list,
If your service even has an allow list,

services like Gmail, you do it all through filters.
services like Gmail, you do it all through filters.

Services like Outlook, Com.
Services like Outlook, Com.

You have those those lists,
You have those those lists,

but they're limited and how many addresses you can put on them.
but they're limited and how many addresses you can put on them.

Other services, other programs have different mechanisms
Other services, other programs have different mechanisms

and different limitations on those mechanisms.
and different limitations on those mechanisms.

So
So

the bottom line is there's no perfect bottom line.
the bottom line is there's no perfect bottom line.

There just isn't spam is we all get it.
There just isn't spam is we all get it.

We all struggle with it to some degree.
We all struggle with it to some degree.

And unfortunately, what I see is a lot of people stressing out over it.
And unfortunately, what I see is a lot of people stressing out over it.

You're stressing yourself into art it.
You're stressing yourself into art it.

Act to be honest, because there's no point.
Act to be honest, because there's no point.

There really is no point in stressing out about it.
There really is no point in stressing out about it.

The important things to do or to learn the nuances of your available FAM filters.
The important things to do or to learn the nuances of your available FAM filters.

Train them. Use how to use an allow list.
Train them. Use how to use an allow list.

Use how to use a block list if it's
Use how to use a block list if it's

available to the extent that you can maybe protect your primary email address,
available to the extent that you can maybe protect your primary email address,

make sure that you're checking your spam folder occasionally for false positives.
make sure that you're checking your spam folder occasionally for false positives.

I do it maybe once a day, and it's a really quick scan.
I do it maybe once a day, and it's a really quick scan.

It's like through that I don't see
It's like through that I don't see

anything I recognize, and then I will immediately empty my spam
anything I recognize, and then I will immediately empty my spam

folder because I know I've checked those same thing.
folder because I know I've checked those same thing.

If you get spam in your inbox,
If you get spam in your inbox,

don't stress Mark it as spam, delete it and move on.
don't stress Mark it as spam, delete it and move on.

And of course, never Mark as spam email that you actually asked for.
And of course, never Mark as spam email that you actually asked for.

If you ask for it.
If you ask for it.

By definition, it's not spam.
By definition, it's not spam.

You should unsubscribe from that.
You should unsubscribe from that.

I've got articles on that topic.
I've got articles on that topic.

And finally, if you have the opportunity
And finally, if you have the opportunity

to make a change to your email service, your email provider, whatever.
to make a change to your email service, your email provider, whatever.

Consider the quality of the spam filter that you're moving yourself into.
Consider the quality of the spam filter that you're moving yourself into.

Some programs are better than other.
Some programs are better than other.

Some services are better than other.
Some services are better than other.

As I mentioned earlier today, as I write this,
As I mentioned earlier today, as I write this,

and for the last few years, Gmail for all the other works,
and for the last few years, Gmail for all the other works,

they may have probably has the best spam filter that I've encountered to date.
they may have probably has the best spam filter that I've encountered to date.

I hope that was helpful.
I hope that was helpful.

I hope this helps you stress out a little
I hope this helps you stress out a little

bit less about spam and know that it's not just you.
bit less about spam and know that it's not just you.

We're all dealing with it,
We're all dealing with it,

and the best way to deal with it is to simply delete it and move on.
and the best way to deal with it is to simply delete it and move on.

For updates.
For updates.

For comments, for related links and more, Visit askleo.com/1880 I'm Leo Notenboom.
For comments, for related links and more, Visit askleo.com/1880 I'm Leo Notenboom.

This is Ask Leo com.
This is Ask Leo com.