Q: I have a College alias set up which sends my mail on to a department server or WiscMail. Are SPAM messages identified before delivery to my mail server? A: No. Only email accounts delivered to the College's mail server can use this spam detecting program. These are email addresses to cae.wisc.edu. Q: Can I check for SPAM with any email client? A: Yes. Your mail is checked for SPAM on the mail server, before it gets to your mailbox. Any email client, including web mail, will show the modified subject line that identifies the message as SPAM. Q: Are SPAM messages detected with both the POP or IMAP mail protocols? A: Yes. Each mail message is analyzed on the mail server, before you see the message in your mail box. Q: How can I keep SPAM out of my Inbox? A: When you activate the spam identifier, you can also set it up to automatically move everythign identified as SPAM to a mailbox called Junk. Q: Will mail messages identified as SPAM be automatically deleted before delivery to me? A: No. The message is only marked; the mail message will be delivered to you. It is your decision and choice on what you want to do with these marked messages. SpamAssassin is not 100% accurate, particularly before training, so nothing is deleted unless you delete it. Q: How accurately is SPAM identified? A: Testing has shown the accuracy rate to be approximately 95%. You can improve performance for your mail by using the Spam Trainer. Q: Can legitimate mail messages be inaccurately marked as SPAM? A: Yes. Although the filter is very accurate, it can miss some things that are SPAM, and it can mistakenly call some legitimate mail SPAM. The Spam Trainer will help teach it about your mail. Q: Is there a provision which allows me to have a "good and/or bad person" list? A: Yes. You can add addresses to yourwhitelist (email addresses that should always get to your inbox) and the creation of a blacklist (email addresses that should never get through) when you edit your Spam Filter settings. Q: Can I obtain a list of the criteria (rules) used in SPAM evaluation? A: Yes. Go to http://spamassassin.apache.org/tests.html The header of the mail message will also contain a list of the rules that made the message look like SPAM. Q: I have a number of mailboxes. Can the spam filter search existing mail boxes for SPAM? A: No. SpamAssassin only analyzes incoming mail. You can use the existing messages in IMAP mailboxes to help teach the Spam Trainer. Q: Does the spam filter search for viruses as well as SPAM? A: No. The spam filter is designed to detect features that look like SPAM email messages. Viruses have different key features, and are best detected using antivirus software. Q: How do I filter an email message that is tagged as: '*SPAM*'? A: Use the "Where to Put Spam" line in the Email Setup section of My Account to move all your SPAM into the junk mailbox.