There are literally hundreds of different programs and utilities to assist in blocking spam from ever appearing in your inbox. These programs are not 100% effective, but some will do an excellent job at weeding out unwanted mail. Spam blocking software works by recognising patterns in incoming emails, and it uses this pattern recognition (along with tests for certain key words) to determine if an email is spam. Because this automated detection method cannot be guaranteed to be accurate every time, the odd spam mail will slip through the ‘net’. Likewise, and possibly more damagingly, the program might find ‘false positives’: genuine non-spam emails that are incorrectly identified as being spam. A quick check of your spam folder occasionally can uncover any erroneously filed emails.

There are also web-based services available that check the authenticity of the sender. When someone emails you they will receive an instant email back asking them to confirm that they are sending a genuine email. This approach works well because mostspammers do not use authentic email addresses, so they will never be able to authenticate themselves. Genuine senders can click on a link and be verified. Once verified emails from that source will be allowed through without further checking. A problem with this approach is that automated replies - such as purchase confirmations - may never be received.

There is no spam blocking approach that will guarantee an inbox free of unwanted mail. If you do choose spam blocking software or a service then you need to be aware of the draw backs of that approach.