CAMail Spam Scanning FAQ

 

How does CAMail Spam Scanning work?

We have installed a product called Spam Assassin on the servers through which all CAMail e-mail traffic passes.  The Spam Assassin program looks at each message and evaluates it against a very large set of rules relating to the content, format, and headers of the message.  Each rule has a point value assigned to it, and if a message meets the criteria of a rule it will add the points to the message score.  Messages with a total score over a certain point threshold (it’s a system-wide threshold) are then labeled as spam by inserting several spam headers into the message.  In addition, the phrase “[POSSIBLE SPAM]” gets inserted into the Subject line of the message, allowing for filtering.

 

Will the system automatically delete Spam?

No.  All e-mail is delivered as before.  Spam would only be deleted if you configure your mail client to automatically delete mail flagged as Spam.

 

How do I set up my client to use the Spam flags?

To use the extra information in the Headers which flag a message as Spam, you need to set up a Filter (Eudora) or Message Rule (Outlook and Entourage).  You can contact your local support group or refer to the documents posted at http://www.camail.harvard.edu

 

Can mail I read through the Web Client be filtered for Spam?

You can install filters through the IMP client, but not through the SMMS client.  To install a filter for the IMP client:

  1. Click on the Options button at the top of the IMP screen.
  2. Click on the Filters item under the Mail Management header.
  3. Click on the Edit your filter rules link.
  4. Under the Rule Definition fields at the bottom of the screen, type into the Text field the phrase [POSSIBLE SPAM].  This phrase is the one that the system adds to mark up mail that it believes is spam.
  5. Click the checkbox to the left of the Subject item.
  6. Now, choose the Action you wish for IMP to take when handling tagged mail.  The default is for IMP to mark the mail for deletion.  You may also move the mail into another folder by selecting the radio button beside the move message to item and selecting one your IMAP folders.
  7. Click the Create button to save the new rule.
  8. If you are done changing your filters, then click the Cancel button at the bottom of the screen to return to the previous menu.
  9. If you wish for IMP to automatically handle your spam-tagged mail as you set it whenever you check your mail, click the two boxes beside the Apply filter rules upon logging on?  and the Apply filter rules when mailbox is refreshed?  items to select them. 

 

Can I choose not to participate in Spam scanning?

You can choose not to set up a local filter for Spam, but all messages will still be processed and labeled by Spam Assassin.  Most users will not notice the additional header information, and there is no other impact from the Spam scanning.

 

I’ve set up a filter, but not all Spam is being flagged properly.  Can you fix the system?

Unlike with viruses, it is much more difficult to always identify Spam, as there is a much greater volume and it is not as unique as a virus.  Because of the point system, there will always be messages that you may consider to be Spam that didn’t score high enough to be labeled as Spam.  Though we can lower the point threshold of what is considered Spam, this increases the risk that legitimate mail will accidentally be labeled as Spam.

 

Spam filtering was working for a while, but recently I seem to be getting more Spam.  Is there something wrong?

Spammers are always developing new techniques for avoiding Spam Scanners, working hard to get their e-mail delivered.  As these new methods are used, more Spam will get through the system, as there aren’t rules to properly label it as Spam.  However, Spam Assassin developers work on adding and updating rules, which they package into new releases of the software.  When we receive these updates, we will test and install them, which will improve the amount of Spam which is properly labeled.

 

Some of the mail being flagged as Spam is legitimate mail.  What should I do?

Some legitimate mail may have characteristics which make appear as Spam.  We have tried to set the threshold for flagging as Spam so that this does not happen, but there is no exact level to use.  In general, the more effective a system is in catching Spam, the higher its likelihood of mislabeling legitimate mail.  Please contact the Help Desk if you would like us to analyze a particular piece of mail.  We would also recommend regularly reviewing your Spam mail box to see if anything was mislabeled, and deleting all the other messages.

 

Will messages from Harvard groups be labeled as Spam?

No.  Any message which comes from an account with “harvard.edu” in the address is “white listed” and will not be labeled as Spam.