The most popular use of junk mail today is probably e-mail spam. People known as spammers send out large quantities of unwanted e-mails containing product information or sales copy to a large list of e-mail addresses. They do this in the hope of generating a lot of sales or leads whilst having little mailing costs.

Spam and spyware may discreetly be using your computer's resources causing it to run slower than normal. You should scan your computer and remove any spyware you find. In extreme cases your computer can actually be used by spammers to help them to distribute their junk mail.

It is critical to have some sort of spam filter in place for ordering and screening your e-mails in your inbox. E-mail filtering software can do this for you automatically. A spam filter may remove suspicious junk mail so you do not have to do it yourself.

There are many anti-spam software available that may filter and prevent junk mail from reaching your inbox. This can better protect your computer against unwanted e-mails. You can look for software such as Comodo, SpamTitan, Mailwasher or SpamFighter.

There are many a free spam blocker that you may find by using search engines. Here are 3 free software options I found by just entering the keyphrase 'free spam filter' into the Google search engine and clicking on the search button.

#1. SPAMfighter is a free tool designed for use with the e-mail programs Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express that automatically filters spam.

#2. Mailwasher is reliable and protects your computer from unwanted junk mail.

#3. Spambutcher claims to be an advanced spam filtering software that can stop junk mail almost 98% of the time.

So why is spam protection so important? It is vital in order to protect your inbox and computer from insolicited junk mail sent by spammers, spam gangs and spam services.

What does the the law say about this issue? Spam law states that a message is spam only if it is unsolicited as well as sent in bulk. It is not just an issue of content, but rather of consent. It is about the delivery method. Spamming is illegal and punishable by law.

There are also spam filtering services available. You will have to pay for most of them. SpamRejection offers a comprehensive service with a money-back guarantee. Cudamail is another service that offers proven e-mail scanning technology and e-mail free of viruses and junk mail.

A spam firewall normally combines open source virus solutions, spam solutions and many different defense layers. For example, the Barracuda Spam Firewall is a powerful spam solution that is easy to install and operate. It is a paid system.

Refrain from displaying your primary address on your website or anywhere else on the world wide web. Spammers may see it and add it to their list of harvested emails. You will then keep getting junk mail you did not subscribe to in the first place.

Electronic junk mail will continue to be a problem for you as long as you do not have a strategy or software in place for handling this common internet threat.