Fighting spam is a difficult balancing act that every Webmail provider faces. If spam preventative measures are too aggressive, legitimate mail gets blocked. If they're too lenient, it opens the door for unsolicited messages. And for every system a provider implements to combat spam, there are thousands of spammers dedicating significant money and resources to counter it.
While there is no 100% effective solution, we've implemented a series of industry-leading initiatives designed to limit the number of unsolicited messages you receive in your My Way account, and to provide a very strong defense against spam:
• Known Spammers - We cross-reference all incoming email messages against an extensive list of known spamming domains and IP addresses. This allows us to block a number of spam messages before they reach their intended destinations.
Open Relays - We automatically block messages that are being sent or bounced from open relays or open proxies, both of which protect spammers from revealing where their messages originate.
• Dictionary Spam - We block all "dictionary spam." These are messages sent from unknown users to large volumes of accounts using similar iterations of email addresses (e.g., "tommy," "tommy1," "tommy2," etc.). When we receive a large number of messages to unknown users from a single source in a short period of time, we temporarily block that source until we can investigate further.
• Blocking/Filtering Features - These features give YOU the ability to block unsolicited emails (or simply filter them into a designated folder). You can block or filter messages based on web address, domain, or keyword within the Subject, From or To/Cc lines of an incoming message. These features are located in your Email Preferences.
• "Report As Spam" Feature - If you receive a message you believe is spam, please click on the "Report as spam" link located in the "From" field at the top of every message. This will automatically send a copy of the message to our technicians who will analyze it and take appropriate action.
The best form of spam prevention? Discretion. Now that you have a new email address, please be discreet about whom you provide it to. Over the last few years, we have all become a little casual in this regard. Most reputable companies allow you to opt-out of receiving information from them and/or their partners. Take advantage of this. And if they don't provide an opt-out option - don't give them your email address.
Thank you for your support, assistance and understanding in our battle against spam. As always, if you have any suggestions or comments, we'd love to hear them.
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