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Description of the policy for how e-mail is filtered by the junk e-mail filters in Outlook or in Exchange Server

Article ID: 954199 - View products that this article applies to.

INTRODUCTION

Microsoft uses technology to protect our services and our customers. We filter or block e-mail messages to stop spam or to increase security. However, reasonable trade-offs are sometimes made when we try to protect customers. Therefore, some wanted communications may be filtered unintentionally.

To make sure that customers do not receive unwanted or inappropriate e-mail messages, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 use anti-spam technology. This technology filters some e-mail messages based on characteristics that are common to spam. Microsoft also helps users and system administrators override unintentional filtering of their mail by helping to manage how filters and related systems handle e-mail messages.

For the security of the junk e-mail feature, we do not disclose or discuss detailed information on a per-message basis.

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MORE INFORMATION

For situations in which you want to have a bit more control over how messages are filtered or how messages are not filtered by the anti-spam features, you can use several methods in Outlook, in Microsoft Exchange Server, or in both. For example, if you have to make sure that e-mail from a specific domain is not treated as junk e-mail, add the domain to the Safe Senders list.

Outlook

Outlook contains several settings that control the way that messages are filtered. You can add the sender to your Safe Senders list. To do this, follow the steps below:

Outlook 2010

In the Inbox, right-click the message.
Point to Junk, and then click Never Block Sender.

To change your spam filter settings, follow these steps:

Click on the Home tab on the Outlook ribbon.
In the Delete group, click the Junk button, and then click Junk Email Options...
Adjust the filter to catch more or less junk mail in your Inbox.

Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003

In the Inbox, right-click the message.
Point to Junk E-mail, and then click Add Sender to Safe Senders List.

To change your spam filter settings, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click Junk E-mail.
Adjust the filter to catch more or less junk mail in your Inbox.

For more information about how to handle junk e-mail messages in Outlook 2007, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102325911033.aspx

(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102325911033.aspx)

For more information about how to create and deploy junk e-mail filter lists in Outlook 2007, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179056.aspx

(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179056.aspx)

For more information about how to help users avoid junk e-mail messages in Outlook 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402621033.aspx

(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402621033.aspx)

Exchange Server

There are several ways to fine-tune the spam filtering features in Exchange Server.

For more information about anti-spam and antivirus functionality, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997658.aspx

(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997658.aspx)

For more information about the anti-spam improvements in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995992(EXCHG.65).aspx

(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995992(EXCHG.65).aspx)

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