Mass Email Blocking (OE 6 SP2)

**IreneLinda** · 2005-12-16 15:22

Suddenly, my spam count has skyrocketed. I check email with the message not showing and delete; then, block all spam. This is taking a very long time now and I wondered if there is any faster way to block spam senders than the one I currently use: Message - Block Sender - Yes.

**viking33** · 2005-12-16 17:40

Hi Linda,
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Suddenly, my spam count has skyrocketed.
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So has most everyone's gone out of the roof. Spam <big>ATTEMPTS</big> to access my mailbox have more than tripled over the last few months.
You will notice that I said attempts.
I have been using "Mousetrap" now for quite some time and have achieved 100% success in blocking that junk.
It is a "verification" type of Spam Blocker, that sends a message back to the sender asking for verification of their address. If none is received back, the email is deleted automatically without any intervention on your part. All names in your own address book are listed OK without the verification. This leaves the decision to allow or delete in your hands, not your ISP, as some "services" are bragging about.
This may not work for all people who might depend on new or unsolicited contacts. ( or so they say )

At any rate, check it out Mousetrap

**IreneLinda** · 2005-12-19 15:05

<P ID="edit" class=small>(Edited by IreneLinda on 19-Dec-05 16:05. Added P.S.)</P>Hi Bob and thanks for getting back to me. I have heard about Mousetrap (here, I believe, in the Lounge) and did download it about a year ago. I blush to admit that I went no further as the directions seemed complicated to me at that time (a time when I was receiving little spam). Will look at it again, thanks to your advice. Time spent learning Mousetrap will eventually be much less than time spent deleting and blocking spam. Appreciate the "push".

On a totally different note, Merry Christmas! Will report back once Mousetrap and I have become friends.

Linda <img src=/S/thankyou.gif border=0 alt=thankyou width=40 height=15>

PS A friend told me about a free program called "spamfighterpro" and provided a link. Do you know anything about it? Are the free programs not as wise a choice as a paid one such as Mousetrap? Also, when I updated my Norton Virus protection today, I received a message that it now includes a spam blocker. Do you know anything about that one?

**viking33** · 2005-12-19 16:51

Hi Linda,
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I have heard about Mousetrap (here, I believe, in the Lounge
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I'm sure it was here. WE did discuss mousetrap then but I don't remember hearing if you used it or not.
BTW, you may want to check to see if you have the latest version ( 1.2.49.0 ) if not DL the latest.

I haven't heard of spamfighterpro at all and I think Norton's version is a spinoff from another program that they purchased the rights for. So, no definitive answer for Norton either, sorry.

And a Merry Christmas to you also.

**IreneLinda** · 2005-12-21 12:49

Thanks for the advice on the version. The program is on the PC and I'm on the laptop right now so will check version before going ahead. I apologize for not getting back to you re. Mousetrap success the last time: was embarrassed I hadn't gone ahead with USING the program after you told me about it and I looked into it. I'll do better this time and let you know.

From what you've said, it sounds as if this is a tried and proven program, although not free, and one you personally have found works really well to control spam. In other words, buy it and use it!!! Am I correct?

Thanks for your advice - again.

Linda

**viking33** · 2005-12-21 17:27

Linda,
The mousetrap program has a free 30 trial and is still $19.95 to buy. ( last time I looked anyway )
I've been using it for a few years now and it's tried and proven by ME that's for sure!

EMOUSETRAP

**IreneLinda** · 2005-12-21 23:03

That's all I need to know to feel comfortable. Thanks, Bob. It was $19.95 when I just checked, too. Will obtain free trial and learn how to use it before buying it. That way, I'll know it works for me so the money spent will be well spent! Appreciate your time and experience!

Linda

**viking33** · 2005-12-22 00:06

Linda,
There is also a tutorial on that same site on how to setup the program
Any questions..... give a holler ! <img src=/S/scream.gif border=0 alt=scream width=15 height=15>

**IreneLinda** · 2005-12-27 19:08

Thanks, Bob. Will do.

Linda

PS Happy New Year, 2006! Wow.

**IreneLinda** · 2006-01-04 16:19

HI Bob,

Have just downloaded latest Mousetrap free trial (you get just 5 days now!) and set it up, using the Tutorial on their Web site as you suggested. Will try it for the next few days and let you know how it works. Plan is to purchase it once I've determined that I can make it work! Thanks for the advice.

Linda

**IreneLinda** · 2006-01-06 14:06

Me again, Bob. Well, rats, today email won't work at all (Outlook Express). Mousetrap's log says the following:
06 Jan 06 09:56:59 Attempt 2 to connect to postoffice.worldnet.att.net:995 failed
06 Jan 06 09:57:00 Attempt 3 to connect to postoffice.worldnet.att.net:995 failed
06 Jan 06 09:57:00 Cannot connect to mail server postoffice.worldnet.att.net:995
06 Jan 06 09:57:06 Error indicating PASS to POP3 server
06 Jan 06 09:57:06

I managed to send email using my Web mail, but don't know what I've done to mess up OE. Did I do something wrong in the Mousetrap setup? I let the program put in my settings automatically as we use Outlook Express and I did add all the email accounts we use. Can't find much help in Mousetrap tutorials and hope you can maybe tell me what to do to correct this.

Oh, one other thing: I tried closing Mousetrap; email still wouldnt work. Get error messages:
"The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'ipostoffice.worldnet.att.net', Server: 'localhost', Protocol: POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Socket Error: 10061, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E".
"The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'Linda Willis AT&T', Server: 'localhost', Protocol: POP3, Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Socket Error: 10061, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E"

**IreneLinda** · 2006-01-06 15:43

Agh!!! Bob, I can't send email from OE. I've gone through all the Properties of all the email accounts and tried changing settings, but nothing seems to work. At this point, I am sincerely beginning to think that I just don't have the technical expertise to use this program. I've spent more time to date trying to get this working than I've done deleting and blocking spam! Should I just delete the program and go back to where I was? The help for the program is even too complicated for me. For example, to add address book to Authorized list, I'm supposed to make address book a CSV file first. I have no clue how to do that! Guess I'm asking you for your advice, as you have been so helpful in the past: do I persist or leave it until something easier to use comes along?

P.S. I'm checking into this site periodically for your response as I don't think I'm receiving messages in OE.

**viking33** · 2006-01-06 17:56

Hi Linda,
Just for now to get you back on using OE as default.
Click on OE>tools>accounts>mail servers.
On the incoming mail box change from local host back to your regular outgoing mail name.
On outgoing mail name this should still be your regular ISP mail name. This shouldn't have changed with MT anyway but check it.
Right click on MT icon lower right of screen. Click restore>accounts.
On the account enabled box, uncheck it. This should temporarily bypass MT.

Meanwhile, I will try to get up a group of screenshots of my account setup so that you can use it as a comparison.

BTW, when it asks for a CSV file, all it is a list of your email contacts, separated by a comma. You can do it in notebook and list like:
joesmith@ verizon.net, sam spade@msn.com, loungeadmin@wopr.com, and so on. then it will import them for you. ( your email list may already be like that. I know I just imported them without any listing or changes. )

I THINK I still have your regular email address in my address book, so I can send them direct to you but please confirm it with a PM, OK?

**IreneLinda** · 2006-01-09 15:55

Hi Bob,

Just to let you know, I just picked up this email at work, using the laptop (no MT on it as yet). Thanks for the bypass advice. I'm now going to go into the PC and follow your directions so I can use OE again. Will post back to let you know of my success.

THANK you so much for ALL your help! My shoulders came down from up around my ears as soon as I read your post!

Linda

**IreneLinda** · 2006-01-09 17:41

Report on progress: Hurray! With the help of the laptop to check settings on all our email addresses against the "Mousetrapped ones" on the PC, I've got OE up and running again, using your process. Phew! Will await your screenshots to see if I can use them to set up MT for this computer.

Again, many thanks for all your help - and your patience!

Linda

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