Blocking Spam in OE

I came across a new spelling of Viagra today: \/!agra. Found it in my ISP spam box. Why this strange spelling? The spammer wanted to fool a message rule that blocks Viagra in the subject line. It didn't fool my ISP. If you're being pestered by spam that's getting past your ISP's filter, you can set up your own message rules in Outlook Express. This is well worth doing, because the Block Sender button doesn't work with persistent criminal spam. The gangs hijack hundreds - sometimes thousands - of innocent computers and send their spam through them.
To set up a message rule in Outlook Express click Tools, then go to Message Rules and click Mail. A new window opens with a list of message rules. If you haven't made any message rules, you'll see New Mail Rule #1 highlighted. Click on New. This gives you a number of choices. Select in Box 1. Where the Subject line contains specific words. Select in Box 2. Delete it. Now go to box 3 and add the words you wish to bar by clicking on 'contains'. Here's my Rule #1:
Apply this rule after the message arrives
Where the Subject line contains 'pharmacy' or 'viagra' or 'chemist' or 'prozac' or 'medication' or 'meds' or 'celebrex' or 'soma' or 'cialis' or 'DVD' or 'My Offer'
Delete it.
This message rule worked for me long before my ISP got round to using a similar rule to catch Viagra spam, and the simple 'DVD' blocked video nasties. There are a variety of message rules you can apply; if you're pestered by spam and use Outlook Express, explore them to block whatever bugs you. Warning: check the contents of your Delete box to make sure your new rule isn't blocking any mail you want to receive.