Setting Outlook Express to Filter Messages Tagged as Spam

This document provides instructions for setting Outlook Express to automatically filter messages tagged as spam by Brightmail AntiSpam software. You have the option of sending tagged messages to a specific folder for review or of automatically deleting messages tagged as spam.

Note: Message rules created in Outlook Express work only on POP accounts. If your account is currently set to check email using the IMAP protocol, please refer to our documentation on Brightmail filters using Web Mail to create server-side filters that can be used to filter messages for Outlook Express.

Outlook Express Client Configuration

To filter mail tagged by Brightmail as spam, perform the following steps:

1. Launch Outlook Express.
2. From the Tools menu, select Message Rules, and click Mail.
3. In the Select the Conditions for your rule field, check the box Where the Subject line contains specific words.

   

4. In the Select the Actions for your rule, check the box Move it to the specified folder to transfer these messages to a different folder. If you would like to delete these messages instead, check the box Delete it.
5. In the Rule Description field, click the link contains specific words.
   
6. In the Type Specific Words window, enter << SPAM ?>> in the text field, and click Add.

   

7. If you selected the option Move it to the specified folder, click the specified link in the Rule Description field. Select the appropriate folder (e.g. JunkMail, Spam, Bulk), and click OK.
8. In the Name of the rule field, enter a name for this mail rule (e.g. Brightmail or Spam).
9. In the Message Rules window, verify that your newly created filter is checked, and click OK.

Getting Help

The ITS Customer Support Center can assist you with setting up filters for your mail. However, consultants will not extensively troubleshoot filter rules, nor can they assist users who need finer rules than the common ones.

Users requiring assistance can either call the ITS Customer Support Center at 213-740-5555, or send an email to consult@usc.edu.