Spam, Spam everywhere... what's a person to do? If you're an online entrepreneur, odds are your mailbox is filling up daily with Spam. The longer you've been "working" the Net and the more visible you've become, the more you're probably receiving. I've been online about five years now,and one of my mailboxes alone is over 85% Spam.

First, you need to realize that Spam is part of doing business online and there's really no escaping it. But that doesn't mean you can't rid yourself of it by using the right tools and arming yourself for daily battle.

There are many excellent tools, some even free that will help you fight the war on Spam and Win! Let's review some of my personal favorites:

1) SpamNet: http://www.CloudMark.com

This excellent piece of software is a relative newcomer and free to download. It only works with Outlook and runs invisibly in the background of your mail program.The software adds 2 new buttons at the top of Outlook's interface named "block" and "unblock" and adds a "Spam folder" where it puts all of the Spam it finds so you can review it if you want before deletion.

If you get a piece of junk when you download your mail, just hit the block button. This sends it and whatever the sender tries to mail you in the future straight to the Spam folder. It also casts your vote to CloudMark and when they receive enough complaints on a sender that mail is automatically labeled as Spam.

If, after reviewing the Spam folder, you find something that doesn't belong there, just highlight it and click the "unblock" button to bring the sender back in to your inbox forever more. Right now this software only works with Outlook, but there is talk about a version for Outlook Express coming soon.I've been using this software for a few months and am very pleased with the results. Runs on Win 98/NT/2000/XP.

2) MailWasher: http://www.MailWasher.net

Another ad-supported free piece of software that works beautifully. I've been using this with my Outlook Express accounts and couldn't be happier. You run Mailwasher before downloading your mail from your server. It automatically marks mail it suspects as Spam - then you can designate the sender as a "friend" or blacklist him with just a click. You then click "process mail" and any "bad" email is bounced back to the sender and the good stuff is sent to your inbox.

You can upgrade Mailwasher to an ad-free version by sending a donation to its creators. Believe me, you'll love it so much you'll want to send them money for all the headaches this software will save you. It can be configured to check multiple accounts so it's great if you're managing multiple identities and boxes.It does not support web based accounts like Hotmail or Yahoo, but a version is supposedly underway for them.Runs on Win 95/98/ME/NT4/ 2000/XP

3) SpamBuster:
http://www.Contactplus.com/products/spam/spam.htm

The free version of this software is ad-supported, which means it displays banners at the top. If you spend the 19.95 and register it, the ads are removed.Before using your POP mail account you run SpamBuster,which looks for junk and comes complete with a list of over 17,000 known spammers. It checks your email periodically for new messages and provides stats and charts of how much Spam you're actually receiving.Also Works with AOL, Hotmail, or Yahoo! accounts.Works on Win 95/98/2000/ME/NT/XP

4) MailShell: http://www.MailShell.com

Blocks 99% of all junk mail and works with your current email address. Free 30 day trial available.Less then 3.00 a month after that

5) SpamKiller:
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/msk/default.asp

SpamKiller was recently purchased by Mcafee Software.who makes the award winning virus software. Works with POP based email accounts and will run you 39.95. Like most Spam filtering software, it checks for new email and possible Spam on your server before downloading it to your email client. Filters are automatically updated and you can create your own custom filters. You can also lodge complaints with spammers and their hosts from within the interface. Supports Win 95/98/NT/ME/2000 or XP.

6) JunkMuncher.com: http://www.JunkMuncher.com

Works with POP email accounts and includes its own email porn filtering utility. Does not support AOL or Hotmail accounts.

7) SpamWeasel:
http://www.mailgate.com/products/spamweas/sw_feat.asp

Free software that supports multiple email accounts.Spam Weasel uses powerful rules to identify Spam and permits a range of user defined actions like blocking and deleting. Easy to Install and use.

8) Spamex: http://www.Spamex.com

Spamex offers disposable email addresses so you keep your real address off spammers' lists. Mail sent to the fake address is then forwarded to your real email account. As soon as the disposable account starts picking up Spam and being abused you can delete it and create a new one. 19.95 a year.

9) ChoiceMail: http://www.digiportal.com/product4.html

A Spam blocking system that's based on the fact that most incoming mail is Spam unless the sender has obtained your permission to email you. You may preapprove senders from your address book. When an unauthorized email is sent to you, its sender is forced to fill out a form stating why he should be allowed to communicate with you. Then it's your choice whether or not to receive messages from him.

Supports POP accounts and runs on Windows NT, 2000, XP, 98, ME. It does not currently work with web-based email systems such as HotMail, Juno or Yahoo or with MSN or AOL's proprietary email. Currently offering a 2-week trial of their service, or buy it for 39.95.

10) Spam Arrest: http://spamarrest.com/

Another service that blocks the junk before it can hit your inbox. All email goes through their server first,and if the sender is already a "verified source" their mail travels to you seamlessly. If they are not, you'll need to add them to your approval list to make sure you continue to receive their emails without any interruption.

Spam Arrest works on Eudora, Outlook, Outlook Express,Netscape, Incredimail, and any other email program that supports the POP3 protocol. Free 30 day trial is available and if you like it the price is only 19.95 every 6 months.

For more tips and helpful Spam resources check out:

Elsop's Anti-Spam PageExcellent links and resources offered here http://www.elsop.com/wrc/nospam.htm

Info. on More Anti-Spam Software
http://www.spamrecycle.com

JunkBusters
http://www.JunkBusters.com

More Free Anti-Spam Software
http://www.webattack.com/freeware/comm/fwspam.shtml

Let's face it. You can't wage your own personal war on Spam and win, but you can reclaim your own inbox by incorporating software that only allows "real" mail to come through. So choose your weapon and prepare for battle by protecting what's rightfully yours -- your Inbox.