Digital Compass

Although Gmail doesn't block all spam e mails coming into your inbox but it is still better then any other email spam filter, Whenever you click on 'Mark as a spam' option, Gmail always use that information to block similar future e mails not only for you, but for all Gmail users.

Regardless of how decent gmail filters are, there is always a small percentage of spams that manage to occupy your mailbox. So, here are few steps that we can do to further block spams attempt.

1. Block all image spam

As the gmail filters get better, spam also becomes quite hard to block. There is always a problem when it uses image and literary texts. Here's a simple Gmail hack to divert spam e mails (contain images) to the Trash folder (or any folder you specify) automatically.

Step 1: Firstly you need to go to 'Settings > Filters' and choose "Create a Filter".

Step 2: Type 'multipart/related .gif' in the 'Has the Words' field and also check the 'Has Attachment' box.

Step 3: Click next and select "Delete It" to move the spam message directly to the GMail Trash folder.

Note: There's a small chance of GMail filter triggering false positive and move few important emails from real senders to the Trash folder. To make sure this thing doesn't happen, create a new folder (label) in gmail and change the instruction to redirect all related mails to the new folder. You can sort out the mails later on during your free time.

2. The Plus Hack

If you want to sign up for download any free software or you want to purchase anything, this trick will definitely come handy. Creating alias emails for aforementioned activities which are very likely to spam you, is an effective way to completely reduce number of spams in your Gmail mailbox. Not only you can track who is the culprit and you can also accurately learn with whom your email is shared with.

To do this, simply put a '+' after your account name and add words.

Example: I can do 'eches+online_deal@gmail' or 'eches+spammer@gmail.com'. All these mails will come into your mailbox anyway, but they can easily be filtered to a folder and even to trash them.

3. The Gmail Hack

When you registered with Gmail account, you are actually given two email addresses

yourusername @gmail.com

yourusername @googlemail.com

You can use both without any fear and later might not reach your mailbox. just like the above given trick, you can take advantage of these two domains so that less spam reaches your Gmail Inbox via filtering system.

For example you distribute 'yourusername @googlemail.com' address to your close contacts while keeping the 'yourusername @gmail.com' address for public. Set filter such that all 'yourusername @googlemail.com' to be delivered to a special folder. This is a definitive way to ensure important messages not to be diverted to Trash folder by mistake.

4. The Dot Hack

Gmail doesn’t acknowledge dots (.) in your account name. So I can use 'eches.net@gmail.com' or without any dots at all. Either way will return to 'echesnet@gmail.com'.

Again you can use the power of filter system to divert certain aliases to specific folders or directly to Trash folder.

I hope you can you use some of the tips above to reduce spams in your Gmail mailbox. Again, these tips are not definitive ways to completely eliminate spams but they can effectively reduce the spam numbers.