Unsolicited emails

[Irene]

Can anyone tell me how to stop emails from an unsolicited source.

Using Miscrosoft Outlook, I know how to "organise" and prevent emails by using rules etc. However, when there is a constant influx for Viagra etc (not for me, my partner!!) and there is no unsubscribe option, how on earth do you stop them. How do they obtain your email address anyway? He doesn't use his computer very much - not like me- but every time he turns on his laptop there's a gush of new one's . I've set a rule to look at the subject matter and to completely delete them, but it is still iritating to see them come in!

[-pops-]

There is nothing you can do to stop them apart from change your email address.

Your service provider may have a spam trap to stop rubbish like that getting through but, if not, install something like Mailwasher or (my preference) ePrompter to check you mail before it's downloaded into your machine.

http://www.mailwasher.net/

http://www.eprompter.com/download.htm

It is important NEVER to reply to these things as that just confirms that you are an active address and opens the doors to a deluge of further rubbish being delivered.

[Thos]

I use the free version of Mailwasher and, although it doesn't stop the unwanted E-mails, you can take them out unseen and not load them into Outlook Express or whatever.

I bounce them back unopened although I know that pops considers that we shouldn't keep loading the servers in that way.

Thos.

[nellie2]

I've got Mailwasher too but I bought it and is one of the best bits of software I have on my machine, I wouldn't be without it.

I used to bounce emails back... but unless they are bounced more or less as soon as they are sent then I can't see the value in it, so I don't do it any more, I just delete them from the server

[Irene]

Thanks very much folks. I'll look at them both and take a view. It's not that I'm feeling intimidated by Mike receiving Viagra emails...

[P;3]

seeing the problem you are having I thought you might find these comments from a thread of mine elsewhere useful?

'(several threads on here) have discussed the rationale for bouncing or not of mails; however; think on this point if you will; if you use a mail client such as Outlook express or Outlook, it will be set to check server at ? what time interval?

if you use mailwasher, it too will be set to check server at ?what time interval?

if one thinks about it; if the mail server is checked that "frequently" , then mail would be sitting on server and "arrived" for at least a minute before being "detected" by the OE or the mailwasher; to therefore "bounce" the mail is really telling the other half that the mail IS a valid address; I had thought of this with the mailwasher but, unless the mail is "caught" the INSTANT it arrives on server, (which is highly unlikely), then to attempt to bounce it is telling the sender that the mail address is valid; the mail should go straight back to sender ( as some of mine have from "legitimate" addresses but addresses that for some reason do not wish to receive my mails); if you use the OE or mailwasher system, then there is a delay between the mail arriving on server and it being checked ;if you then attempt to bounce it, it is too late; however, all said and done, the agreeement really is to not bounce mails as to do so clogs up an already overloaded system'

I"ve got mailwasher on here so I can "preview" the rubbish on server via it (as I did with a most fascinating mail I recently received which was offering me the most interesting assortment of "inducements" ; THIS I was SORELY tempted TO bounce !!) ; if you preview the stuff via the mailwasher before it ever reaches your machine, you can keep the stuff OFF the machine; I for one REFUSE to download mail whose address I do not recognise; and chuck it straight out from server;

a benefit OF mailwasher is that I did nearly chuck out a mail which I did not recognise; I previewed it and its path and realised that it was, actually "legit", and downloaded it ;

certain members persuaded me to use the mailwasher and the OE ,

so far I have remained clear of the rubbish out there , and desist from bouncing the horrid , sometimes downright filth that appears on the server; however, the point is that , unless you hit it back INSTANTLY, which is really impossible, then ignore it and delete it; bouncing cloggs up the ssytem and I suggest really advertises to the sender that you ARE "legit"...and if so you will then have a deluge of mail '

maybe these comments might be of some help?

and I do use mailwasher and now would not be without it!!

[Irene]

certain members persuaded me to use the mailwasher and the OE

Thanks for that very interesting contribution. However, at the risk of looking a bit dumb, what is OE?

[-pops-]

Usually OE = Outlook Express but, in this example, I can understand your confusion.

[Irene]

I thought Outlook Express was too obvious. I think I was looking for something much deeper, like 'Operating Something'! :)

[P;3]

my appologies ;) OE normally refers to the Outlook express e mail program (client)

there is also the Outlook e mail client program

and to also clarify IE refers to the Internet explorer version one might be using (mine is IE6 )

I hope you have been able to make some decisions from the information given?

none of us likes the rubbish mails and one way is to use the Mailwasher program which does help keep the unwanted mails OFF ones machine :)

[Irene]

I hope you have been able to make some decisions from the information given?

Yes thanks, I have already downloaded and installed Mailwasher and am trying it out on my pc before putting it on the laptop for my partner, Mike. So far so good. I can certainly see the benefits already.

Most grateful for all assistance

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I've got Mailwasher too but I bought it and is one of the best bits of software I have on my machine, I wouldn't be without it.

I used to bounce emails back... but unless they are bounced more or less as soon as they are sent then I can't see the value in it, so I don't do it any more, I just delete them from the server

Bouncing spam messages is always a bad practice, and I am glad you don't do it any more. I also hope that nobody else is doing this!

Why is it 'bad'? Have you ever - I mean ever - received any spam message with a real From address? I doubt it. From addresses are always forged; sometimes they just generate random addresses, other spammers take real addresses from their millions of stolen addresses, and forge them into the From header.

Assume a spammer is randomly picking your email address to forge into the From header, then sending out one million spam message with your address in it. Now let's assume that 1% of the recipients use Mailwasher and unthinkingly bounce all spam messages. Where do these bounces go? To the forged From address, of course. You will receive approximately 10,000 Mailwasher bounces in your mailbox! Thank you, Mailwasher!

Please do not bounce - spammers never see the bounces, but some innocent bystander will.

P.S. I personally find bounces as bad as spam itself, and I report anyone who bounces their spam to me as a spammer to SpamCop.

[Thos]

In view of all these sensible comments, I am now converted from a bouncer to a bounceless operator.

Thos.