e-Mail SPAM
What can be done about it?
There is no doubt that SPAM is today's greatest drawback with e-mail. So, can it be combatted?
ISP SPAM Controls
Many Internet Service Providers (ISP's) are now providing optional SPAM control with their e-mail systems - you need to check out your ISP's website to find out whether you have this facility. These controls will offer various levels of SPAM control - the heaviest levels will almost certainly also block some of the e-mail you would like to receive. These systems normally also allow you to label any addresses you wish as SPAM.
Software SPAM Controls
There are various SPAM software solutions around - SpamPal is an example and it's free! SPAM software systems require just a small amount of set-up and are fairly effective. However, you will almost certainly find that you have to chose between a heavy level of SPAM control which also blocks some e-mails you really want, or a lighter level which allows all the e-mails you need but also allows some SPAM through.
Challenge / Response Anti Spam Systems
Another
tools you can use is a challenge/response anti-spam system - an example
of this would be Spam
Arrest. With this system e-mails from unknown senders receive
an auto-reply message containing a "challenge". If or when
the sender completes the challenge (the response), their email is
forwarded to your inbox, and they are then added to your authorized
sender list.
The challenge is easy for people, but impossible for automated systems (i.e. spambots) to complete, therefore you only receive e-mail from the real human beings who have completed the challenge response.
Spam Arrest offers you control over your inbox! You can decide who is allowed to send you email by importing your personal address book, or entering your known and approved contact addresses directly into the system - a little bit of work to pre-approve your regular e-mail contacts, but worthwhile to block out the spam.
You can still review emails from unauthorized senders on the Spam Arrest website at any time (in your "unverified" folder), up to seven days after receipt after which it will be deleted.
Of course, for a service which blocks all your spam, there is a small charge - find out the costs of Spam Arrest here.
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