Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 is embellished with countless innovative features that work as efficient spam blockers. Here are a few useful tips and tricks that can transform Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 into a powerful shield against spams.

• Use Junk E-mail Filter - To assuage the problem of spam, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 comes with Junk E-mail Filter that automatically scrutinizes all the incoming mails and sends all the spams to the junk email folder.

   

• Block Automatic Picture Download - In addition to Junk E-mail Filter, Outlook 2007 has another sturdy anti-spam feature that blocks automatic picture download. Sometimes email messages contain contents or pictures that are linked to a server. Whenever the user opens such an email message, the content or picture is automatically downloaded. As soon as the content is downloaded, the server involuntarily verifies the authenticity of the email address. Once, the email address is verified, it can easily be sold to the spammer. The user has only to turn on this feature to nullify the crude intentions of spammers.

   

• Turn off Automatic Acceptance of Meeting Requests and Read Receipts - Often, spammers take advantage of meeting requests and read and delivery receipts. The moment the user responds to these emails, the spammer verifies the email address. To prevent this mishap, it is worthwhile to turn off these functionalities. While only the email server administrator can turn off the delivery receipts, the read receipts and meeting requests can be easily switched off by the user in the following manner: To turn off read receipts, open the Tools menu and click at Options . A dialog box will appear, click Email Options button in that box. Another dialog box will open, in which the Tracking Options button has to be clicked. The Tracking Option dialog box will open through which the read receipts can be turned off.To turn off automatic acceptance of meeting requests, the user has to open the Tools menu and click at Options . As soon as the Options dialog box opens, click at Calendar button. Under Advanced Options in Calendar dialog box, click Resource Scheduling . In the Resource Scheduling dialog box clear the Automatically accept meeting requests and process cancellation check box.

   

• Disable Links and Other Functionalities in Phishing Messages - A phishing message is a variation of spam. Often, these messages are loaded with fallacious links and illusive email addresses. The chief objective of phishing messages is to retrieve sensitive personal information as bank account number, password, etc. The retrieved information is misused by criminals. Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 provides a facility to disable the links and Reply and Reply All functionalities of the phishing message. Moreover, it also issues a warning whenever the email address is not legitimate, but spoofed. The user can disable the links and functionalities via the Junk Email Options dialog box.

No doubt that the above features of Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 have the capability to reduce spams, but certain precautions should be taken by the user as well.

• Don’t Respond to Spams - If the sender of the email appears to be unknown, then do not respond to that message. Whenever the spam is answered, the spammer gets to know that the email address is valid as well as active.

   

• Avoid Using Email Address Any and Everywhere - Public websites as newsgroups, weblogs, chatrooms, and message boards are easily accessible places for both users and spammers. To reduce the probability of being spammed, it is advisable to avoid posting personal email addresses at such places.

   

• Don’t Forward a Chain of Email Messages - When a chain of email messages is forwarded, usually there is no control over who sees the email address and who doesn’t. Furthermore, the email volume is also unnecessarily increased. Therefore, avoid forwarding chain email messages.