Junk e-mail filters help Microsoft Office Outlook identify e-mail messages that should be treated as spam. There are two key points to remember about junk e-mail filters in Outlook:

• For Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, the Junk E-mail Filter can be updated.
• For Microsoft Outlook 2002 or earlier, the junk e-mail filters cannot be updated.

• Update the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

• Junk e-mail filters in Outlook 2002 or earlier

Update the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

For Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Junk E-mail Filter updates are available at Downloads on Office Online. (Under Office Update, click Check for Updates.)

For more information about how to use the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, see Overview of the Junk E-mail Filter.

For more information about how to use the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook 2003, see Manage spam with the Junk E-mail Filter.

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Junk e-mail filters in Outlook 2002 or earlier

The criteria used by the junk e-mail filter to define spam is documented in the Microsoft Junk E-mail Filter Readme. (The Readme is for reference purposes only: the listed criteria cannot be modified.)

 Note   The junk e-mail filters for Outlook 2002 and earlier cannot be updated.

To work with junk e-mail filters in Outlook 2002 or earlier, use any of the following procedures.

Turn on junk e-mail filtering

1. On the Tools menu, click Organize.
2. Click Junk E-mail.

   

3. Choose the options that you want, and then click Turn on for each set of options that you choose. You can have Outlook automatically delete, move, or color-code all junk e-mail messages.

    Note   The default setting of the junk e-mail filter changes the color of suspected junk e-mail messages, but does not move the suspected messages to a separate folder. If you specify gray as your junk e-mail color, the questionable messages appear faded but still visible enough to read, ensuring that important messages are not accidentally overlooked.

Add a sender to the Junk Senders list

1. In Inbox, click a message from the sender whose messages you want to automatically delete.
2. On the Actions menu, point to Junk E-mail, and then click Add to Junk Senders List.

View the Junk Senders list

1. On the Tools menu, click Organize.
2. Click Junk E-mail.
3. At the bottom of the pane, click the link.
4. Click the Edit Junk Senders link.

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