Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

What type of software utility monitors incoming e-mail messages and filters unwanted ones?

1. Spam blockers

2. Antivirus

3. Spyware detection and removal

4. Data compression

The correct answer is: Spam blockers

Spam blockers are software utilities specifically designed to monitor incoming email messages and filter out unwanted messages, commonly referred to as spam. They actively analyze incoming emails based on predefined criteria, including sender information, keywords, and patterns typically associated with unsolicited or harmful messages. By identifying and redirecting these unwanted emails to a separate folder or deleting them outright, spam blockers help maintain a clean and relevant inbox for users. Other types of software, while also important for overall digital security and functionality, serve different purposes. Antivirus software is focused on detecting and removing malicious software but does not specifically target spam emails. Similarly, spyware detection and removal tools are aimed at identifying and eliminating spyware that may be monitoring user activity on their devices, rather than filtering email. Data compression software compresses files to save storage space and improve file transfer speeds, without any relevance to email filtering. Thus, spam blockers are the most appropriate choice for monitoring and filtering unwanted email messages.