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Incorporating Free Spam Filters into your Browser

What is Spam?

Spam never used to be a problem in the early days of the Internet when there weren’t as many people using e-mail. These days, however, spam is not only a constant bother, it can also be a pathway to cyber fraud and identity theft. Generally speaking, spam refers to any type of unsolicited e-mail, and can basically be viewed as the cyber version of junk mail.

For the most part, spam mail consists of harmless advertisements for various types of online properties.  However, as time has rolled on, spam has become more invasive and more treacherous. Lewd spam e-mails for pornography and sexual enhancement drugs are some of the most common. Viruses are spread throughout certain types of spam mail that are designed to make it seem like you’ve won something, or that you’re getting a clandestine e-mail of some sort.

Spam has become such a problem and so invasive, that several years ago, President Bush signed legislation designed to cut down on the trafficking of spam. Commonly referred to as the Can-Spam Act, the bill does not and cannot stop all types of spam, but it is the first step in the direction towards freeing people from the burden of having to consistently be on guard within their own e-mail account.

Free Spam Filters

A spam filter is a type of software program that is designed to combat the burgeoning problem of spam mail. You can think of a spam filter as somewhat like anti-virus software in that it keeps watch of your system and blocks certain types of programs or e-mails from getting through to your email service. In the same way that you can block certain e-mail addresses or users from being able to send you mail, you can set up spam filters to watch for common types of spam mail or publicized spam viruses that have been causing problems.

MyDoom, Sasser, Blaster, etc., are all large-scale viruses that were slipped into e-mail and passed around in the form of spam. What seemed like a harmless piece of spam mail ended up causing problems for tens of thousands of people all over the world.

Free spam filters can be found throughout the Internet. Hoping to help combat the spam epidemic, various software producers have created small spam filter programs and made them available for free, because in the long run, it helps to keep people on the Internet and trusting its content instead of avoiding it due to the fear of a virus or identity theft.

Cloudmark Desktop offers free spam filters that are compatible with Microsoft outlook. SpamFighter is Europe’s leading spam filter producer offering free spam filters for users all over the world. Ella for SpamControl is another free spam filter that is readily available for download and primarily designed for use with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express.

With so many free spam filters to choose from, all you have to do is log onto the Internet and browse around until you find a free spam filter that strikes your fancy.