Anti-Spam
Even if your Internet Provider claims to stop spam you are likely still to receive lots of time-wasting, stupid, fraudelent and downright disgusting emails. I used to get up to 40 spam messages a day.
If you have Outlook Version 2003 a junk-mail filter will remove most suspect email to a spam folder. You can change the default Junk Email settings so that a higher percentage of mail is moved but in this case you will need to check the Junk folder to ensure important messages haven't been sent there in error. It also includes a "whitelist" and "blacklist" where you can add the addresses of those message you always wish to receive - or always block.
BopSpam
One solution is provided by BOPSPAM. This system collects your emails, filters them and just sends on to you the "good" mail. Users can have an email sent to them each night to list their e-mails that have been caught (and the ones that have been forwarded) so you can decide whether to download a blocked message or mark a message as spam. Using the web site at www.bopspam.co.uk clients can also view mail and spam and alter the filter settings to allow trusted mail to pass.
Cloudmark Desktop
I have recently installed an excellent add-on for Outlook (or Outlook Express) called CLOUDMARK. For a small annual fee this will move spam email to a spam folder (as does Outlook 2003) but the main difference is that it works with ealier versions of Outlook and the accuracy is far higher. If a spam does get through, by clicking on the message you can help other Cloudmark users - as a message is sent to their spam database, thus improving the detection for future messages. You can also scan existing folders for spam. A new toolbar is added to your browser to make use of the program easier. The detection rate on my PC has been 98% so far. Click here for more details or a trial copy.
PC Tools - Spam Monitor
This program detects spam as it arrives in your Inbox using downloaded filters plus your own whitelists and blacklists. You can download a trial version here. It costs under £15.
AVG Internet Security
Buy a complete protection system to combat viruses, spyware and spam in one deal from AVG. Click here and select the download page.