How do Spam Filters work?

A spam filter is again, a web based application, or script, which reads your mail and content it possesses in some cases for keywords that are predefined as typical in spam mail. The words in the email subject line, and body of the mail are compared to a list of keywords in a database list.

This list is simply a list of words commonly used in email ads. Words like “guaranteed, free, offer or opportunity” are just a few of hundreds of words that ads have to contain to convey a solicitation for a transaction or offer to join a site or program on the web.

When the script finds a match where a word in the mail matches one in the list, the email is handled in one of various ways depending on how the spam filter works. Most spam filters move the offending email to a “known spam” or “suspected spam” folder, where the user can look at these mails and delete them manually or let the service provider do this automatically at a preset time.

Some filters allow you to designate the mails as spam and report them as spam to the provider. This in itself can give you an opportunity to lodge a false spam claim to the authorities if you mistakenly do this when in fact you had opted in to mail from that source. So a word of caution needs mentioning, be sure you are making a valid claim regarding reporting spam.

Another feature with spam filters is the ability to designate the sender’s email address and/or their domain as spam and add it to your list of blocked senders with your email box account. This will create and build a list of domains and addresses you no longer want to get mail from, and the email box provider will delete these mails every time you get one from them.

The result is you never see the mail, and have to contend with it. It is done automatically for you as it comes in. Another word of caution is in order; be sure that you no longer want this mail, or worse that you are required to accept it. Senders will know when this condition exists, as they will receive a reply back from their mailing that they could not deliver their mail to you.

If you have a legitimate membership with a site or program, and forget you do then you will most likely loose that membership and all benefits associated with it. Many times home business marketers join so many programs just “trying them out” they accumulate dozens or even hundreds of such memberships.

In the course of the time it takes to do this many months can go by, and they forget they are members of these programs because the program did not do well for them or they simply lost interest and did not pursue promoting it. For whatever reason, the name and familiarity of that program wanes and weeks or months later they see a mail from this site and assume it is spam.

Then take improper measures of reporting it as spam or blocking it. If you are or will be a web marketer, keeping good records is essential just from the enormity of mail you will get in this particular niche field. Proper organizational skills are an absolute must if you are web marketing. Without this it is very easy to perceive you have been spammed, and report it as such.

With good habits of making folders with relevant names, and storing your welcome emails and login info emails, you have a quick and accurate method of verifying the identity of mail before you lodge a mistaken spam claim.