Since the end of last year various parties have asked me “I get to much spam in Outlook Express, is there anything I can do about it. Do I need to buy a spam filter?”
The answer is a blunt “No!”. Outlook Express by any standard is looking a little old and decrepit these days, and has been considered a ‘simple, simple’ email program lacking in a few features for a while. Its most obvious lacking feature is a spam and phishing filter.
Fortunately, Microsoft has sort of addressed this problem for Windows XP users at no extra cost, all be it, give things a marketing exercise program to.
‘Windows Live’ or ‘Live Mail’ is Microsoft’s big idea to overhaul the Hotmail system. What some users don’t know is that they offer a desktop software program called Windows Live Mail. Windows Live Mail can overtake Outlook Express, import all your emails and contacts, and handle RSS feeds for you. If you have more than one email account set-up in Outlook Express it can deal with that too. If you have a Hotmail or Live email account, it can sync with the online version and bring all your contacts and emails as well.
But, and this is the big part: it does include a spam filter and phishing filter.
Better still, it has a much for up to date interface, which is a far cry from the old, grey, dusty look for Outlook Express. It is also able to work with other Windows Live programs (or old MSN software – which you really should update whilst you’re here).
As stated earlier, the software costs absolutely nothing, and contains no adverts. It is however a bit of a marketing and brand awareness that Hotmail / (some) MSN services are ‘no more’, and ‘transforming into Live Services’.
The only thing to watch out for is the tick boxes before you press the install button. If you don’t want your homepage changed, or additional toolbars installed, just tick the ‘Mail’ option. Also look to the right, there are a few more options to decide.
If you are still using MSN Messenger, time you moved on-and-up from that to Windows Live Messenger and ticked that box too.
Link: Download for Windows Live Mail 2008 from Microsoft
Windows Vista users need not apply, unless you have a Hotmail or Live.com account. Windows Mail should suffice for you.
Update
Additional hints and tips, including the basic requirements of Windows Live Mail are available here.
