Creating a spam folder

Before making any filters (called "Rules" in Outlook Express), you need to create a folder to hold spam until you have a chance to review its contents. While it is possible to create a filter that simply deletes anything that may be spam, this is not recommended as you may inadvertently delete mail you want to keep. Instead, you will filter the probable spam into a separate folder and review or delete it at your convenience.

Select the File menu. Choose New, then choose Folder.
	An untitled folder will appear in the folders list. Change the folder name to Spam.

Creating a spam filter

Now that you have created your spam folder, you may make the filter that will catch a broad array of spam and send it to that folder. This is a filter that catches email containing anti-spam headers which Internet Channel has added based on the route the message has followed through the Internet on its path to you.
 
 

Open the Rules window by clicking the Tools menu and selecting "Rules".

With the "Mail (POP)" tab selected, click the "New " button in the upper left corner of the window.

 

The following steps refer to the image above: Enter "X-Spam-Status: Yes" (without the quotes) in the Rule name line at the top of the window. Choose "Any header" from the first drop-down menu in the top section. Choose "Contains" from the next drop-down menu. Type "X-Spam-Status: Yes" (without the quotes) into the next line. Choose "Move message" from the first drop-down menu of the bottom section. Select "Choose folder" from the next drop-down menu.

Click on the Spam folder then click the Choose button. This will return you to the Define Mail Rule window.

Click OK to save the changes.

Notice that a check mark appears to the left of the rule you just created. This indicates that the rule is active. To disable a rule without deleting it, uncheck the box to left of the rule. Close the Mail Rules window.

Bypassing filters

It is possible that a filter may move legitimate mail into your spam mailbox. Let's assume that something about mail from your Eudora News mailing list triggers the Internet Channel mail server to add anti-spam headers to those messages. To bypass the filter, create an exception:
 
 

Open the Rules window as described above. Select the rule you want to modify and click the "Edit" button to open the Define Mail Rule window. The following steps refer to the image above: Click the "Add Criterion" button near the top of the window. Choose "if all criteria are met" in the "Execute actions" line. Choose "From" from the first drop-down menu of the second line . Choose "Does not contain" from the next drop-down menu. Type the email address that should be excluded from the filter in the next line (pete@moss.net in this example). Click OK to save the changes.

Disabling filters

To disable a filter, open the Rules window as described above. Remove the check mark next to rule you wish to disable. Close the Rules window to save the changes.