Add an HTML filter to catch more spam in Mail.app
Jan 30, '03 08:41:01AM
Contributed by: Anonymous
I don't know if this is so glaringly obvious to some that it merits being called a "tip," but I found it quite useful.
Like many, I've been quite frustrated by spam. Jaguar's addition of "Junk" filters has been helpful, but it's still not 100% effective. It recently occurred to me that most, if not all, of the the spam I receive comes in HTML format. I set forth with the goal of creating a Mail rule that would filter any HTML encoded mail that wasn't from a known sender (someone in my Address Book).
My first attempts weren't very fruitful until I got help from a moderator from the "As the Apple Turns" forums I simply know as "braxton." He suggested the following:
- In Mail, go to Preferences and create a new rule
- Where it says "From," select the menu and go down to "Edit Header List...".
- Add a header called "Content-Type" (without the quotes).
- Close back out of the "Edit Header" dialog. Select "Content-Type" from the menu.
- Enter "text/html" in text field for your newly created header, "Content-Type."
- Add whatever actions you want the rule to take (mine flags the email, plays a sound and moves it to the Trash).
The key is in adding a new "header" - using this technique has allowed me to reject HTML email quite successfully. I've also created a duplicate rule that looks for "Content-Type" containing "multipart" - this helps catch email that doesn't quite follow HTML guidelines but still contains images or HTML formatting.
Also, I might add, I've recently learned that just by simply viewing some HTML spam mail, you may be inadvertently telling spammers that your email address is valid, therefore encouraging them to send more your way. A couple ways to reduce the likelihood of this happening is to turn off HTML rendering in Mail's preferences, and/or closing the preview pane by double-clicking on it. Ultimately you don't want to view spam mail, unless you want them to continue sending it to you.
Hope this helps someone else!
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