Spam Handling Procedures
A feature of the SIUC e-mail system is the capabilitity for the handling and the dispostion of Spam e-mail messages. The e-mail system is running an advanced Spam Filtering program that is highly efficient in its detection and handling of Spam e-mail.
As each e-mail message enters a users mailbox, it is scanned by the Sendmail Anti-spam Solution software, assigned a Spam Confidence Rating, and placed in the appropriate mailboxes. The Spam Confidence Rating is a percentage score between the ranges of 0.00% up to 100.00%. The more likely the message is spam, the higher score assigned to that message.
You can see the Spam Confidence Rating of each of your e-mail messages by displaying the full headers and looking for the X-MASF: ## % heading. It typically is placed near the end of the message header. The higher the percentage number following the X-MASF: tag, the more likely the message is spam.
By default, the e-mail system has been configured to place ALL messages that recieve a Spam Confidence Rating of 70% or higher into a designated mail folder. This folder is automatically created by the e-mail system and is placed in each users mailbox. The folder is called "Spam". If you attempt to rename or delete this folder, the e-mail system will automatically recreate it. Users can adjust this setting by accessing the Intelligent Inbox and making the appropriate setting changes in the Mail Filtering section. Refer to the SIUC Intelligent Inbox Information page for help making these changes.
It is recommended that Webmail and IMAP mail client users check this folder on a regular basis for any message that they wish to keep. All messages in this "Spam" folder will be automatically deleted by the e-mail system once they reach an age of 30 days. If you wish to keep any of the messages that appear in your "Spam" folder, it is recommended that you move these messages into another folder.
People who access their e-mail with a POP mail client will not be able to view this folder through their e-mail client. If you are unsure if your mail client is set up for POP access, you need to check your configuration/preference settings. If you need assistance checking/changing a setting in your e-mail client, you can contact the Computer Support Center at 453-5155 or e-mail them at infotech@siu.edu.
POP mail users have a few different options for accessing the messages in their "Spam" folder. They can:
- Log onto SIUC Webmail periodically and check the "Spam" folder there.
- Reconfigure their POP e-mail client to access the e-mail server as an IMAP client. This will allow them to view the folders that have been created in their e-mail account. The folders will appear in a directory tree structure directly under the inbox.
- Log onto the Intelligent Inbox and change the location where all spam e-mail messages are stored. If a users wants to maintain a POP only connection, it is recommended that they redirect all of the spam messages back into their inbox if they wish to see them. Users then can created their own mail filters to redirect the mail into folders on their PC's.