Published on June 8, 2015
The junk mail filtering technique of MS Outlook is quite different. It works according to the mailing protocol used by the application: IMAP, POP3, or MAPI (Exchange Server). In the later segment, we will discuss the filtering criteria used by Outlook to safeguard user account from spam mails.
It will be interesting to know that when Outlook 2011 for Mac is configured with Exchange Server, it actually does not perform filtering. This job is performed by MS Exchange Server. Emails are scanned at server level and marked junk according to the settings done.
Outlook 2011 14.3.1 and the older versions had the option for Junk mail and senders blocking. This was made available under the junk ribbon and there was facility for customizing the settings. However, on connecting with Exchange Server, these options could be blocked by users owning to the advance server role architecture.
Note: If an outdated Outlook 2011 is used, it is recommended to install all latest fixes and features. To get the updates, click on the "Help" button and then choose "Check for Updates".
However, if Outlook Mac 2011 14.3.2 or later edition is in use, then it should be notified that some hunk filtering features, particularly for Exchange server connection are made.
The Junk E-mail Protection… feature is deactivated. An SMTP address can be added to the list of Blocked senders and to do that, follow the steps shared below:
In this case, local senders can be blocked. For this, select the email where sender has to be blocked, click on the Junk button on the Home ribbon. Now, click on Block Sender or choose Junk E-mail Protection. This will allow you to manually add an email address to the list of blocked senders.
Note: The blocked senders list created will be workable for the client (Outlook 2011) only. The blocked senders will not get synced with the server but its affect will get active only when emails arrive to Outlook 2011 that have blocked senders list defined.
In this configuration, you have option to utilize the built-in mail filtering capabilities. For customizing the spam mail filtering settings, go to Junk E-mail Protection… option that is available under the Home ribbon. This gives the provision of defining the protection level as None, Low, High, or Exclusive and will also give option for defining Safe Domains or Blocked senders.
Either the mails can be marked Junk or its senders can be blocked. For this, select the message or click on the Junk button and choose Mark as Junk or Block Sender.
This was a small introduction to the efforts that are being done at the client's end to protect the mailbox against spam. More than this, applications are built in with techniques (like Bayesian calculation) that help to catch the spam, depending upon the nature of the emails.