• Last year, the average email account received 2,200 Spam emails.
• This year, you can expect that number to increase by 63%

Email filtering is an important tool for safeguarding your email address against this onslaught.

A filtered email address is one that accepts mail only if it passes certain tests. Filtering systems can automatically block most viruses and, more notably, irksome spam that would otherwise flood your inbox. Unfortunately they can’t filter out everything, but they help in significantly decreasing the amount of dangerous viruses and spam sent to your inbox.

Special software filters and organizes incoming messages by applying various tests to the emails, such as word tests, blacklist tests, and html validation. The filter can also be configured to detect email addresses or to detect images, expressions, and keywords within the actual message. Based on the results of the tests, the filter then allows a message through to the inbox or redirects it elsewhere.

Messages that fail the tests are sent to a “quarantine” area, where you can periodically review the contents to be sure there aren’t any false positives—legitimate emails flagged as spam. You can then choose to either deliver or permanently quarantine the messages.

Tip for avoiding false positives: Add important email addresses to your address book or safe list, and be sure to periodically check quarantined messages for false positives.

Filtering software is primarily helpful because it removes spam and virus-infected emails. However, you can also use email filtering to prioritize and sort messages by placing certain conditions on incoming messages. For example, you could set up your email so that all incoming messages with a certain sender or subject matter are automatically filtered to a specified mail folder.

You should have a couple levels of protection:

• Your email host should provide a virus filter.
• Most email programs include some degree of filtering capability.
• Computer anti-virus software should protect your inbox.