IT Services offers server-side filtering for unwanted email or spam. Users with an IT Services email address can manage spam messages more efficiently using this spam filter facility. This system does not involve installation of software on the user's computer system.

By default, the spam filter facility is not enabled. Users are instructed to read through the following information and the content of the Web pages indicated at the end of this page, before enabling the spam filter.

Features of the Spam Filter

• The software scans incoming messages, looking for specific words or phrases (spam signatures) which are known to occur in spam. Each message is assigned a score (point) value based on the identified spam signatures. If the score is higher than a particular value known as the threshold value, the message will be classified as 'spam'.
• The scanning of messages is an automated process done entirely by the spam filter program on the IT Services server. It does NOT in any way involve a person/s reading any other person's email messages! The spam filtering software being used on IT Services mail servers is SpamAssassin.
• The spam filter (when enabled) will not deliver spam messages to the recipient's mailbox. Spam messages are blocked and stored on the IT Services server for 30 days. Users will receive a daily e-mail report listing the details of the quarantined messages. The recipients are able to retrieve any quarantined message stored on the IT Services server to their mailbox.
• The spam filter can alternatively be configured to tag (label) spam messages by inserting the word {Spam?} in the subject line. The tagged messages are delivered along with other incoming messages to the recipient's mailbox. Users opting for this configuration (not recommended) will also need to set filter/message rules on their email program (Mozilla Thunderbird, MS Outlook Express, MS Outlook etc.) so that tagged messages are automatically moved to a separate folder.
• Users can also specify a list of email addresses known as a blacklist. Messages sent from blacklisted senders are blocked and stored on the IT Services server.
• Users can also specify a list of email addresses known as a whitelist. Messages sent from whitelisted senders are not classified as spam, even though these may have spam content.
• The sensitivity level of filtering or threshold value may be customised by users as appropriate. Low threshold values will classify more messages as 'spam'. However, users should be cautious about low threshold values because most of their genuine mail will end up blocked by the spam filter.
  Messages originating from the campus network passing through the IT Services mail servers are never classified as 'spam'.
• The spam filter deletes messages with a score (point) value above 20. Other messages with score values between the threshold (set by the user) and 20 are blocked and stored on the IT Services server. All blocked emails can be retrieved from the IT Services server at any time within 30 days. Blocked messages are deleted from the IT Services server after 30 days.

It is important to note that the IT Services spam filter service is just a part of the effort required to help users deal with spam. Users are also encouraged to follow the anti-spam guidelines indicated here.

More Information

• Spam Basics & Anti-spam Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Enabling & Configuring the Spam Filter
• Retrieving Blocked Mail (once the spam filter is enabled)

Queries about the spam filter facility should be directed here.