Anyone who has an e-mail address has probably experienced the dreaded Junk Mail Syndrome known as SPAM. According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, SPAM is defined as the receipt of "unsolicited usually commercial E-mail sent to a large number of addresses." Yes, there are some options available for "controlling" SPAM.

For the most part, it is not illegal to send unsolicited e-mail messages much like the junk mail that appears everyday in your mailbox. However, some private Internet networks like AOL have taken on several adult material SPAMmers in court. AOL has won monetary awards and now blocks these SPAMmers from reaching AOL customers. While that sounds good, the reality is that there are many small bulk mailers on the Internet and blocking this group can be a daunting task.

Controlling SPAM can start by checking the Marketing Preferences set by your Internet service provider (ISP), such as AOL. What are Marketing Preferences, you ask? They give the service provider the right to send you unsolicited information until YOU change these preferences. It can be difficult to find this setting. As example, for those paying to use a Yahoo mail address (anybody@yahoo.com) get ready to dig deep. If you are set up to read e-mail from Outlook or another mail client, you must use your Web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer) to reach this page. Go to www.yahoo.com and select "e-mail." Once you have signed on with your Yahoo ID and Password look for the "Mail Options" link. From the next page, look for "Account Information". Yahoo will ask for your password. Since Yahoo changes the location of "mail preference," just enter "Yahoo Mail Prefences" in search box and follow the instructions. Assuming you have answered No for many of these questions, SPAM mail should slow down. This is much like putting your telephone number on the No Call List. [Note: For those using a free Yahoo mail address, it is conditioned upon accepting 3rd party e-mail information.] Marketing preference policies will vary from ISP to ISP. Check with your service provide for details on their preference policy.

Taking this to the next step requires anti-SPAM filtering software. There are a number of filtering software publishers. The important thing to remember is that this process is not perfect and may inadvertently filter e-mail messages that you may want to receive. One review site is TopTenReviews.

Want to get passionate about SPAMmers…there are a number of advocacy groups such as CAUCE, Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail, is an organization whose founder, Neil Schwartzman says, "…"CAUCE's mission has always been about making the Internet safe for users, and promoting responsible Internet commerce."

Junk mail whether it arrives in your postal mailbox or your electronic e-mail box can be annoying. This article provides a number of options; however, nothing is perfect. Controlling SPAM mail is somewhat possible…review all options available through your Internet Service Provider.

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