E-mail > Spam Filter
Q. What is SPAM?
A. SPAM is a form of unsolicited commercial email that is regulated by the Can Spam Act of 2003. To read more about SPAM, check out this page at wikipedia.org.
Q. What does Clarkson University use to filter SPAM?
A. Clarkson University uses a Barracuda Spam Filter (the Barracuda) to scan and quarantine incoming email. The Barracuda uses a wide range of tests to determine whether an email is SPAM, including: keyword scanning, checksum technology, intention analysis, bayesian algorithms and white/blacklists.
Q. How does the Barracuda determine if a message is SPAM?
A. The Barracuda screens each piece of email for characteristics usually associated with junk mail. It looks for SPAM indicators - phrases, words and other items commonly used in junk mail solicitations. For each SPAM indicator that it finds, it assigns a point value. When the points exceed a tolerable level, the email is then placed into your SPAM quarantine. An email summary of your SPAM quarantine will be sent to you on a daily basis.
Q. What is my SPAM quarantine?
A. Your SPAM quarantine is a special location where the Barracuda will place your emails that have a very high likelihood of being SPAM. You will receive an email from the Barracuda that includes a summary of your SPAM quarantine on a daily basis. You can click on the link included in this email to login to the Barracuda and manage your SPAM quarantine. If you do not elect to remove messages from your SPAM quarantine, they will automatically be deleted at 14 days.
Q. How do I manage my SPAM quarantine?
A. You will receive an email every day that includes a summary of your SPAM quarantine and a link that you can use to access the quarantine. Alternatively, you may login to your quarantine by visiting https://spamfilter.clarkson.edu and logging in using your iNotes username and password. Once logged in, you will be presented with a summary of your quarantined emails. For each message that is placed in the quarantine, you have the option to deliver, whitelist, delete, classify as SPAM or classify as not SPAM.
These options behave as follows:
Q. What is a Bayesian filter?
A. Bayesian SPAM filtering is the process of using Bayesian statistical methods to classify documents into categories.
Q. What is whitelisting and blacklisting and how does it work?
A. Whitelists are lists of email addresses you always want to receive email from. Email that you "whitelist" does not get tested for SPAM although it will be scanned for viruses. You might, for example, whitelist a company you conduct business with if you want to receive their regular advertisements and not worry about the Barracuda quarantining messages from them. Tip: It isn't recommended to whitelist clarkson.edu. If you do whitelist clarkson.edu, then it is possible for spammers to avoid the SPAM filter by using a fake clarkson.edu address in the from line. A blacklist is the opposite of a whitelist. Any emails sent from addresses included in your blacklist will always be placed into your SPAM quarantine.
Q. I am receiving SPAM in my Inbox, how do I stop that from happening?
A. If you run across this issue, please do the following. In the Notes client, open the message. From there Click View -> Show -> Page Source. After that, right click on the message and click Forward. Please send that message to SPAMfilter@clarkson.edu and we will work to resolve the situation.
Q. Can I disable SPAM filtering if I don't want it?
A. Yes! It is our intent to make the Barracuda work for everyone. So, if you would like to disable SPAM filtering for your account, you are welcome to do so. First, login to your SPAM quarantine. Once inside the quarantine, visit Preferences -> SPAM Settings. From there, you need to select "Use System Defaults: No" and then set the Quarantine Score to ten. Click the "Save Changes" button and SPAM filtering will be disabled for your account.
A. SPAM is a form of unsolicited commercial email that is regulated by the Can Spam Act of 2003. To read more about SPAM, check out this page at wikipedia.org.
Q. What does Clarkson University use to filter SPAM?
A. Clarkson University uses a Barracuda Spam Filter (the Barracuda) to scan and quarantine incoming email. The Barracuda uses a wide range of tests to determine whether an email is SPAM, including: keyword scanning, checksum technology, intention analysis, bayesian algorithms and white/blacklists.
Q. How does the Barracuda determine if a message is SPAM?
A. The Barracuda screens each piece of email for characteristics usually associated with junk mail. It looks for SPAM indicators - phrases, words and other items commonly used in junk mail solicitations. For each SPAM indicator that it finds, it assigns a point value. When the points exceed a tolerable level, the email is then placed into your SPAM quarantine. An email summary of your SPAM quarantine will be sent to you on a daily basis.
Q. What is my SPAM quarantine?
A. Your SPAM quarantine is a special location where the Barracuda will place your emails that have a very high likelihood of being SPAM. You will receive an email from the Barracuda that includes a summary of your SPAM quarantine on a daily basis. You can click on the link included in this email to login to the Barracuda and manage your SPAM quarantine. If you do not elect to remove messages from your SPAM quarantine, they will automatically be deleted at 14 days.
Q. How do I manage my SPAM quarantine?
A. You will receive an email every day that includes a summary of your SPAM quarantine and a link that you can use to access the quarantine. Alternatively, you may login to your quarantine by visiting https://spamfilter.clarkson.edu and logging in using your iNotes username and password. Once logged in, you will be presented with a summary of your quarantined emails. For each message that is placed in the quarantine, you have the option to deliver, whitelist, delete, classify as SPAM or classify as not SPAM.
These options behave as follows:
- Deliver: This option will remove the message from your SPAM quarantine and place it in your Lotus Inbox.
- Whitelist: This option will remove the message from your SPAM quarantine and place it in your Lotus Inbox. Also, the sender of the email will be added to your personal whitelist and messages from this email address will never be placed in your quarantine again.
- Delete: This option will remove the message from your SPAM quarantine.
- Classify as Spam: This option will use the messages that you select to train your Bayesian filter. This allows the Barracuda to learn your personal SPAM preferences. Once you have classified 200 messages as SPAM and 200 messages as not SPAM, the the Barracuda will begin to use your personalized Bayesian filter settings.
- Classify as not Spam: This option will use the messages that you select to train your Bayesian filter. This allows the Barracuda to learn your personal SPAM preferences. Once you have classified 200 messages as SPAM and 200 messages as not SPAM, the Barracuda will begin to use your personalized Bayesian filter settings.
Q. What is a Bayesian filter?
A. Bayesian SPAM filtering is the process of using Bayesian statistical methods to classify documents into categories.
Q. What is whitelisting and blacklisting and how does it work?
A. Whitelists are lists of email addresses you always want to receive email from. Email that you "whitelist" does not get tested for SPAM although it will be scanned for viruses. You might, for example, whitelist a company you conduct business with if you want to receive their regular advertisements and not worry about the Barracuda quarantining messages from them. Tip: It isn't recommended to whitelist clarkson.edu. If you do whitelist clarkson.edu, then it is possible for spammers to avoid the SPAM filter by using a fake clarkson.edu address in the from line. A blacklist is the opposite of a whitelist. Any emails sent from addresses included in your blacklist will always be placed into your SPAM quarantine.
Q. I am receiving SPAM in my Inbox, how do I stop that from happening?
A. If you run across this issue, please do the following. In the Notes client, open the message. From there Click View -> Show -> Page Source. After that, right click on the message and click Forward. Please send that message to SPAMfilter@clarkson.edu and we will work to resolve the situation.
Q. Can I disable SPAM filtering if I don't want it?
A. Yes! It is our intent to make the Barracuda work for everyone. So, if you would like to disable SPAM filtering for your account, you are welcome to do so. First, login to your SPAM quarantine. Once inside the quarantine, visit Preferences -> SPAM Settings. From there, you need to select "Use System Defaults: No" and then set the Quarantine Score to ten. Click the "Save Changes" button and SPAM filtering will be disabled for your account.