The impact of spam on Internet uses varies, but nobody escapes untouched, that’s for sure. An active Internet surfer or a business that works online a lot, receives hundreds if not thousands of messages that are hard to separate into legitimate mails and spam. Software companies provide us with the most efficient solution in the form of paid or free spam blockers.

Anti-spam tools can be classified in three different categories, depending on how they operate. A first group of spam blockers is that of the plug-ins. Such programs are installed on the PC and take care of the downloading the messages and eliminating the unwanted emails. For some users this may not be the ideal anti-spam option.

Stand-alone applications are another category of spam blockers. Such software runs on the computer that requires constant communication with the email server. The mailbox is checked for spam several times per hour, and every time unwanted emails are identified they are immediately deleted. Such spam blockers consume resources and bandwidth.

Spam filters of the server side type make a third variant of spam blockers that are usually installed by major email servers such as Yahoo! Mail or MSN. The incorporated software scans your messages for peculiar phrases or writing styles that appear aggressive. There are many ways to fool spam filters, and dishonest Internet users know how to manipulate their tools to do so.

Spam blockers could be a problem for Internet marketers that use opt-in listings to advertise their products and services. The problem is that e-commerce mail messages may not reach the recipient because they get deleted by the spam filters or the spam blockers installed on the prospects’ computers. There are nevertheless ways to change the content of the emails and and thus be able to pass the filters.

Although, we’d like to believe we have full protection against unsolicited mail, spam blockers have a 90% efficiency most of the time. There are even some modern anti-spam systems that can reduce 99% of spam.

When shopping for an anti-spam tool, check those free spam blockers that are compatible with your computer and email service. Also inquire about the level of blockage provided by the spam blockers and find out about the installation challenges. The cost is also an issue as the most effective tools are the priciest on the market.