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What can I do to prevent spam?
Last Updated: 08 January 2009
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We're committed to eliminating spam – eyuck! And you've got great tools to help keep spam out of your Inbox.

SpamGuard

Keep SpamGuard turned on. To check if it’s on:

  1. Click Options in the upper-right corner of your Mail page.
  2. Click Spam from the list on the left.
  3. In the “SpamGuard” section, next to “Control SpamGuard,” do you see a check in the box beside “Automatically send suspected spam to my Spam folder”? If so, great! SpamGuard is ON. If not, turn it on by placing a check in that box.
  4. In the area above your spam options, click Save Changes.

Also in the “SpamGuard” section, you can specify how often you’d like us to empty your Spam folder (we do it automatically once a month, but you have options to empty it faster), and you can indicate your preference for showing – or blocking – images. Image blocking is another effective way to fend off spam!

Image Blocking

Keep Image Blocking on. Image blocking defeats the “hits” spammers receive whenever one of their images is “viewed” – which can include the moment you select a spam message before you click Spam. Here’s how to block images:

  1. Click Options in the upper-right corner of your Mail page.
  2. From the list on the left, click Spam.
  3. In the “SpamGuard” section, find “Incoming Images.”
  4. Select “Initially block all images.” You’ll have the opportunity to un-block any images you’d like to see in any of your emails, but will be protected from spammers by this precaution.
  5. Above the options area, click Save Changes.

The Spam button

If you get a spam message in your Inbox, click it to select it, then click Spam. This alerts us to the latest tricks and techniques that spammers are using, and helps us clamp down tighter and fight spam more effectively.

If you change your mind or think you made a mistake, just look for the next message from that sender in your Bulk folder and click Not Spam to reverse your vote.

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