Need help stopping spam and using filtering

Filter email using displayed name

Create a mail filter rule with the following:

Condition:  From    Contains <displayed name>               Action: Discard

Example:

Condition:  From    Contains USA Wild Seafood               Action: Discard

Difference between Discard and File into Trash

I created a Test rule with Condition: From   Contains <my name>       Action: File into Trash

I sent myself a test email.  The incoming email went directly to the Trash folder.

I changed Action to "Discard" and sent myself another email.  No incoming email was received.

Each of the above outgoing emails sent one copy to the Sent objects folder. 

Add action > File into > Select folder > Trash > OK         Incoming email is moved to Trash.

Add action > Discard                                                            No incoming email is received.

Difference between Keep and File into Inbox

Add action > Keep                                                               Incoming email is moved to Inbox.

(This would be used with subsequent rules).

Add action > File into > Select folder > Inbox > OK        Incoming email is copied to Inbox.

(For email going to Inbox anyway, this creates a second copy and typically wouldn't be used).

Each of the above outgoing emails sent one copy to the Sent objects folder. 

Are rules case sensitive?

Rules are not case-sensitive.

List existing Mail Filter Rules

Webmail > Settings icon > Settings > Inbox > Filter Rules

Help

Help is available by selecting "Add new rule" in the upper right of the "Mail Filter Rules" page.  Then click the "?" in the circle in the upper right.

(The Settings icon in Help has changed since these webpages were created).

The best way to learn how to use mail filter rules is to create a Test rule and test different Conditions and Actions.

Note

Webmail filter rules are more flexible than Outlook rules.  If Outlook could filter email by name or email username, junk email from newsletter@whoever.com would never reach my Junk Email folder.  But, the bigger problem with Outlook is that built in junk email rules are applied before user rules.  This is a bit off-topic, but if anyone knows a way to block known Outlook junk email without it ever getting to the Junk Email folder, I'd like to hear how you do it.