It is pretty easy to set up.  There is a great tutorial on the Google Website which is worth ready whilst setting up the program!  For those who knew it the application is very similar to the SBS 2003 Server Setup.

So far we’ve been really impressed!

HAM

1. Firstly, select a folder with wanted emails in, such as your inbox (you could repeat this process for other folders of unwanted emails).
2. Then open up the AVG User Interface by going to ‘Start’ –> ‘Programs’ –> ‘AVG 8.0′ –> ‘AVG User Interface’.
3. In the User Interface click tools and then Advanced Settings
   
4. Click on the + next to Anti-Spam then select Settings (Click on image to make bigger).
   
5. Move the slider to nearer ‘Less Aggressive’ or Manually change the score.  Then click Apply. (See image above)
6. Select ‘Train Anti-Spam’
7. Select the email software you use, we will use Microsoft Office Outlook for this example.  Then Click Next. (Click on image to make bigger).
   
8. Now you may be asked for your profile name.  For most people there will be only one option because you will only have one profile.  But for those who have more make sure you select the right one, i.e. the one you wish to train with.  You can make your selection via the drop down list.  Then Click OK.
9. Select the Folder from the list which you chose in step 1 (Click on image to make bigger).  Click Next.
   
10. Select All Messages (No Filtering) then Next.  (Click on image to make bigger)
    
11. Click Next
12. Once the process is complete click ‘Finish’ and then ‘OK’

SPAM

1. Firstly, create a new folder in you email software.  We suggest that you don’t create the folder in your inbox so this new folder doesn’t get mixed up in your HAM training.  Then name the folder, we suggest something like ‘TRAIN_SPAM’.  Then click OK.
   
2. Drag into this folder any Spam emails which AVG has previously missed
3. Once this is done you need to open up the AVG User Interface.  To do this go to ‘Start’ –> ‘Programs’ –> ‘AVG 8.0′ –> ‘AVG User Interface’
4. In the User Interface click tools and then advanced settings
   
5. Click on the + next to Anti-Spam then select Settings (Click on image to make bigger).
   
6. Move the slider to nearer ‘Less Aggressive’ or Manually change the score.  Then click Apply. (See image above)
7. Then select ‘Train Anti-Spam’
8. Select the email software you use, we will use Microsoft Office Outlook for this example.  Then Click Next. (Click on image to make bigger).
   
9. Now you may be asked for your profile name.  For most people there will be only one option because you will only have one profile.  But for those who have more make sure you select the right one, i.e. the one you wish to train with.  You can make your selection via the drop down list.  Then Click OK.
   
10. Select, from the list, the folder that you placed your Spam emails in.  Then click Next.  (Click on image to make bigger)
    
11. Select All Messages (No Filtering) then Next.  (Click on image to make bigger)
    
12. Click Next.
13. Once the process is complete click ‘Finish’ and then ‘OK’.
14. Go back into Outlook or your email program and delete anything that was in the TRAIN_SPAM folder.

From now on the files like those that were in the TRAIN_SPAM folder should be sent automatically to your junk email folder. Sometimes they need to be trained a few times as there are variants of Spam so just repeat the steps above.

Give it a go and let us know if you have any suggestions or questions!

Microsoft Outlook Shortcut Keys:

Alt + S – Send the email
Ctrl + C – Copy selected text
Ctrl + X – Cut selected text
Ctrl + P – Open print dialog box
Ctrl + K – Complete name/email typed in address bar
Ctrl + B – Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I – Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U – Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + R – Reply to an email
Ctrl + F – Forward an email
Ctrl + N – Create a new email
Ctrl + Shift + A – Create a new appointment to your calendar
Ctrl + Shift + O – Open the Outbox
Ctrl + Shift + I – Open the Inbox
Ctrl + Shift + K – Add a new task
Ctrl + Shift + C – Create a new contact

Next week is the last of the Quick Tip Shortcut Series.  The Shortcut topic will be Winkey Shortcuts

Disclaimer: pctoolbox.co.uk cannot be held responsible for any problems that are caused from using the shortcuts.  All shortcuts work to the best of our knowledge.

1. First of all open up your email program e.g. Microsoft Office 2007 (Although we are using Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 for the example, the process is very similar in most email software.)  Now you must create a new folder.
   
2. Give the New Folder a name.  We suggest ‘TRAIN_SPAM’.  Then Click OK.
   
3. Drag into this new folder any Spam emails that AVG has missed.
4. Once you’ve put any missed spam in the folder you need to open up AVG.  Select ‘Tools’ and then ‘Advanced Settings’.
   
5. Click ‘Anti-Spam’, Settings and then ‘Train Anti-Spam’.  (Click on image to make bigger).
   
6. Select your Email Software from the list.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
7. Now you will be asked for your profile name.  For most people there will be only one option because you will only have one profile.  But for those who have more make sure you select the right one, i.e. the one you will to train with.  You can make your selection via the drop down list.  Then Click OK.
   
8. Find the folder which you wish to train.  Then click ‘Next’.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
9. Select All Messages (No Filtering) then Next.  (Click on image to make bigger)
   
10. Click Next.
11. Once the process is complete click ‘Finish’ and then ‘OK’.
12. Go back into Outlook or your email program and delete anything that was in the TRAIN_SPAM folder.

From now on the files like those that were in the TRAIN_SPAM folder should be sent automatically to your junk email folder. Sometimes they need to be trained a few times as there are variants of Spam so just repeat the steps above. Give it a go and let us know if you have any suggestions!

1. live.co.uk – makes your email address nice and short for people to remember!
2. Unlike hotmail that has been around since time began (well…almost!) live.co.uk is relatively new and therefore there are many email addresses still available!
3. Uses the nice new Hotmail web email application which is very much like Outlook Web Access (for those familiar with remote Exchange administration).

Certainly worth checking out if you are in need of a new address! Visiti hotmail.co.uk to get yours!

Please let us know if you have any thoughts!

1. Never Respond to Spam, this tells the sender that your address is active.
2. Block Images: Spammers can tell if an image was displayed in an email so if possible turn off image display on your email client for suspect messages.
3. Don’t forward chain letters – it is just a way of collecting email addresses. For more information on this read here.
4. Don’t click links – much like the images, if you click the links it tells the spammer your address is active.
5. Never respond to an email requesting information – if a company like ebay or your bank requests for you to confirm your details then it is most probably a hoax. But if you want to be 100% sure then log-in to the respective site in your normal way (going direct to the site!) and then see if you have a message from them.

Well there we go, my top 5 quick tips on stopping or avoiding spam. I hope it helps