Junk mail filter is REALLY BAD

[ARandisciple]

I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message suddenly is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none, with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it. My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they will get
on the ball and fix it!?!

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

[ARandisciple]

I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it
was the same problem I am having now. But I have run the repair again, and I
will see . . . .

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the
rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet
mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I
have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in
the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message suddenly
is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none,
with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same
issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it.
My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they will
get
on the ball and fix it!?!

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

It seems some updates mess up the filter and that could be the cause for it
to stop working again.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it
was the same problem I am having now. But I have run the repair again,
and I
will see . . . .

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard
and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have
ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the
rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet
mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I
have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set
up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder
as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in
the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message
suddenly
is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to
delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none,
with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched
the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same
issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it.
My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they
will
get
on the ball and fix it!?!

 

[ARandisciple]

I did detect and repair, and there is no change to the filter errors. I
still get mail that is on my safe sender list being sent to the junk folder.
I think my first surmise was probably correct: it is just bad programming.

It seems some updates mess up the filter and that could be the cause for it
to stop working again.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it
was the same problem I am having now. But I have run the repair again,
and I
will see . . . .

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard
and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have
ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the
rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet
mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I
have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set
up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder
as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in
the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message
suddenly
is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to
delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none,
with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched
the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same
issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it.
My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they
will
get
on the ball and fix it!?!

 

[Donald McDaniel]

I did detect and repair, and there is no change to the filter errors. I
still get mail that is on my safe sender list being sent to the junk folder.
I think my first surmise was probably correct: it is just bad programming.

It seems some updates mess up the filter and that could be the cause for it
to stop working again.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it
was the same problem I am having now. But I have run the repair again,
and I
will see . . . .

:

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard
and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have
ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the
rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet
mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I
have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set
up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder
as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in
the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message
suddenly
is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to
delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none,
with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched
the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same
issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it.
My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they
will
get
on the ball and fix it!?!

I have been using Microsoft Outlook for some years, now, and upgrading
with each new version release. Since the Junk Mail filter was added,
it has yet to fail to correctly identify Junk, marking 99% of all mail
I would consider Junk as Junk.

I do admit (and I'm sure Microsoft also admits) that sometimes it does
have a false positive or two, but only a few out of many. This is why
I review all mail that Outlook marks as junk before emptying the Junk
Mail folder, and why Microsoft added the Junk Mail folder to the
Folder list.

I have used several third-party Junk Mail filters, and none of them
work as well as Microsoft's. Currently, I am using no other Junk Mail
filter than the one provided by Microsoft, and am completely satisfied
with its performance. I have no plans at this time of using another
third-party Junk Mail filter.

I have written my own Junk Mail filters in the past. I no longer use
it, since, while my home-brewed filter worked well, Outlook's is so
much better.

So, I really don't know what your beef with Microsoft is. The filter
works as designed and written, and it works quite well. If you have
somehow broken it through your own ignorance or misuse of the product,
I advise you to do a clean install of your OS, then do a clean install
of Office. This should fix any problems you might be having.

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread
so that conversations may be kept in order
=======================================================

 

[ARandisciple]

I explained what my beef with Microsoft is: the junk filter doesn't work as
it should. Apparently it does for you, and that's great for you, but it
doesn't work for me. I am not "ignorant," and I know how to use software
properly. It is not "misusing" the filter to check the box that says "always
trust mail from (e-mail address removed)." And it is not any of my doing that the filter
still sends mail from (e-mail address removed) to the junk folder after I have told it 10
times to always trust that sender!

I'm glad that your filter catches 99% of your junk; it also catches 99% of
my junk, along with 99% of my mail that isn't junk.

My OS is brand-new; I installed Outlook on my new laptop. I have no
problems with any other Office programs, or any other programs on my
computer. My only "beef" is with the junk mail filter of Outlook. I asked
for possible solutions to this problem that appears to be prevalent, as my
searching of the discussion boards has shown. I am not the only one with
this problem, and no one yet has offered a working solution.

So I am happy for you that it works, but that doesn't change the fact that
it doesn't work for me, jeez.

I did detect and repair, and there is no change to the filter errors. I
still get mail that is on my safe sender list being sent to the junk folder.
I think my first surmise was probably correct: it is just bad programming.

It seems some updates mess up the filter and that could be the cause for it
to stop working again.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it
was the same problem I am having now. But I have run the repair again,
and I
will see . . . .

:

Try detect and repair. It seemed to fix problems with the rules wizard
and
junk filter for others.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have
ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the
rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet
mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I
have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set
up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder
as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in
the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message
suddenly
is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to
delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none,
with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched
the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same
issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it.
My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they
will
get
on the ball and fix it!?!

I have been using Microsoft Outlook for some years, now, and upgrading
with each new version release. Since the Junk Mail filter was added,
it has yet to fail to correctly identify Junk, marking 99% of all mail
I would consider Junk as Junk.

I do admit (and I'm sure Microsoft also admits) that sometimes it does
have a false positive or two, but only a few out of many. This is why
I review all mail that Outlook marks as junk before emptying the Junk
Mail folder, and why Microsoft added the Junk Mail folder to the
Folder list.

I have used several third-party Junk Mail filters, and none of them
work as well as Microsoft's. Currently, I am using no other Junk Mail
filter than the one provided by Microsoft, and am completely satisfied
with its performance. I have no plans at this time of using another
third-party Junk Mail filter.

I have written my own Junk Mail filters in the past. I no longer use
it, since, while my home-brewed filter worked well, Outlook's is so
much better.

So, I really don't know what your beef with Microsoft is. The filter
works as designed and written, and it works quite well. If you have
somehow broken it through your own ignorance or misuse of the product,
I advise you to do a clean install of your OS, then do a clean install
of Office. This should fix any problems you might be having.

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread
so that conversations may be kept in order
=======================================================

 

[louise]

I am using Outlook 2003, and the mail filter is the worst one I have ever
come across. It either filters too much, or not enough, or applies the rules
incorrectly. I have marked some senders safe over and over again, yet mail
from them still goes to the junk folder. And many messages that are
obviously spam get sent to my inbox, including messages from domains I have
blocked.

Almost as frustrating as the junk filter is the rule tool. I can set up a
rule to send messages with a specific word in the header to a specific
folder, but messages that do not have that word get sent to that folder as
well. And if I set up a rule to delete messages with specific words in the
header or body (such as sex, for porn filtering), every message suddenly is
sent to the deleted items folder! If I have even one rule set to delete,
every mail I get is deleted, whether or not that rule applies to it.

I have tried all the different junk filter settings, from high to none, with
no observable difference in how the filter operates. I have searched the
discussion boards, and have found several posts addressing this same issue,
and not one time has it been resolved. I am disgusted with Outlook.

If anyone does have a solution to this problem, please, please post it. My
guess is that it is just bad programming by Microsoft. Perhaps they will get
on the ball and fix it!?!

Take a look at Spambayes. It works beautifully and learns as you
go along. The easiest way I have found is to just tell it you'll
teach it as you go. Then you tell it what is spam and it learns.

Google for Spambayes and you'll find it.

Louise

 

[louise]

I explained what my beef with Microsoft is: the junk filter doesn't work as
it should. Apparently it does for you, and that's great for you, but it
doesn't work for me. I am not "ignorant," and I know how to use software
properly. It is not "misusing" the filter to check the box that says "always
trust mail from (e-mail address removed)." And it is not any of my doing that the filter
still sends mail from (e-mail address removed) to the junk folder after I have told it 10
times to always trust that sender!

I'm glad that your filter catches 99% of your junk; it also catches 99% of
my junk, along with 99% of my mail that isn't junk.

My OS is brand-new; I installed Outlook on my new laptop. I have no
problems with any other Office programs, or any other programs on my
computer. My only "beef" is with the junk mail filter of Outlook. I asked
for possible solutions to this problem that appears to be prevalent, as my
searching of the discussion boards has shown. I am not the only one with
this problem, and no one yet has offered a working solution.

So I am happy for you that it works, but that doesn't change the fact that
it doesn't work for me, jeez.

I did detect and repair, and there is no change to the filter errors. I
still get mail that is on my safe sender list being sent to the junk folder.
I think my first surmise was probably correct: it is just bad programming.

:

It seems some updates mess up the filter and that could be the cause for it
to stop working again.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I seem to remember using detect and repair several weeks ago for something.
If I remember correctly, it fixed the problem only temporarily; I think it

See my earlier post to you about using a program called Spambayes.
It too makes some mistakes, but less as you train it. And,
whatever false positives it gives, can be easily gone over by you
and corrected.

Louise