In our last article, we focused on basic password security.
Continuing, we will focus on how Mac os X handles Email and Spam filtering.
Apple’s Mail application helps you keep unwanted email out of your inbox. Mail already has certain junk mail filtering enabled. You can turn off that filtering or customise its settings.
To begin, choose Preferences from the Mail menu. Then click the Junk Mail icon and set options you prefer.
If your ISP uses Apache SpamAssassin, Brightmail AntiSpam, or other spam analysis tools, Mail leverages that service. If you do not wish to take advantage of your ISP’s filtering, deselect “Trust junk mail headers set by my Internet Service Provider.”
Some junk mail may use HTML to embed graphics that reveal your computer’s Internet address when retrieved from the sender’s servers. If Mail detects that a message is junk, it won’t load HTML images associated with it. If you want to view images, click the Load Images button in the Junk Mail alert above the body of the message.
Redefining the Junk Mail Filter
Select “Perform custom actions” and click the Advanced button in the Junk Mail settings window. Then you can refine filtering that determines which messages are designated as unwanted and what Mail should do with them. The following screen shot shows some options in the Advanced settings window.
How to eliminate Junk mail
Ultimately, junk email should be stopped “before” it gets to your desktop computer. Whilst many people don’t have the technical skills (or desire for that matter) to install spam filters on their home network, many ISP’s now provide at least some level of filtering.
If yours does not, then there are several alternatives that should be looked into. These basically break down into the following:
- Spam filter – service providers (such as mail guard for example)
- Spam filter plug-ins provided by your ISP (which haven’t been activated because you don’t know about them – perhaps)
- Google Apps (more about this in a later article)
Alternates to these?
Filtering at the edge of your home/business network using open source alternative (linux for example) or a more robust SOHO network appliance – that includes a decent spam filter.
In closing though, Mac OS X will cater for literally all of your spam and junk mail needs.
In our next article, we will focus on the built in firewall within Mac OS X.
Warm Regards,
Scott Malpass
Aquafruit Media.
2 Comments
This is a really nice series of posts that I think provide people with meaningful help that is easy to understand. I wrote a similar article last week called Top 5 Mac Security Tips for the Holidays. If you’re interested in looking at things you can do to protect your Macs (especially while traveling), it’s worth a read.
Hi Macgurulounge,
Thanks for the feedback. After looking through your article, I thoroughly agree.
Locking down the security side of the Mac including File Vault, secure virtual memory, AV and the EFI password are definite requirements.
As to the iPhone as well as a Mac laptop, physical security is also just as important.
cheers.
Scott Malpass
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