Spamshield pro - FAQ

What is the difference between SpamShield Pro & Lite?

SpamShield Pro includes advanced spam fighting features not available with SpamShield Lite.

SpamShield Lite Features:
SpamShield Pro Features:

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How do I know which version I have, Pro or Lite?

Login to WebMail, and then choose Options. If you see SpamShield Pro listed under the Mail Handling column, then you have SpamShield Pro, otherwise you have SpamShield Lite. top

How do I use SpamShield Pro?

SpamShield Pro is a user configurable suite of tools to reduce junk email. To access SpamShield Pro, login to your WebMail account, then choose Options, and then SpamShield Pro. There you will be able to customize SpamShield Pro’s settings.

Enable SpamShield Pro:

Turn all of SpamShield Pro’s options on or off.

Sensitivity:

Classify a message as spam based on a SpamShield Score that you choose. A high SpamShield Score indicates that a message is more likely to be spam. At the default level of 2.5, SpamShield Pro should detect over 95% of junk email with no false positives, based on test results.

Move spam to INBOX:

Automatically file spam into a folder of your choice.

Tip: If you use WebMail or IMAP, you can have SpamShield Pro automatically move spam to the Spam folder. If you POP, it is recommended that you leave spam in your INBOX and enable the Insert SpamShield Score feature described below.

Hide images:

In WebMail, this option removes image tags from messages in the Spam folder to block image-based web bugs and graphics that may be offensive. It’s also a great way to reduce overhead on slow connections.

Insert SpamShield Score into messages as header:

This option gives advanced email users the ability to create an email rule in their favorite email program that recognizes the SpamShield Score so it can perform additional actions on the junk email.

Approved Senders:

SpamShield Pro will not affect messages received from email addresses on this list, sometimes referred to as a whitelist.

Tip: Want to approve messages based on specific message criteria? Create an Email Rule in WebMail. Email Rules take precedence over SpamShield Pro.

Blocked Senders:

SpamShield Pro can reject all messages sent from email addresses on this list, sometimes referred to as a blacklist.

Block returned ("bounced") messages for email that you did not send:

SpamShield Pro includes BounceShield which can reject bogus bounces caused by spammers and trojan horses.

Block all senders that are not Approved Senders:

SpamShield Pro can reject all messages sent from email addresses that are not on the Approved Senders list, sometimes referred to as a greenlist.

Tip: Be sure to choose the Save button at the bottom of the SpamShield Pro Options page if you want to save your adjustments. top

How do I setup SpamShield Pro with MS Outlook?

This option gives advanced email users the ability to create an email rule in MS Outlook that recognizes the SpamShield Score to perform additional actions on the junk email.

Note: MS Outlook Express for Windows does not support the ability to filter based on information in the email headers.

Many users of MS Outlook want to be able to see the messages that are being flagged as Spam without having to log into WebMail. Again, this assumes that you have setup your SpamShield Pro settings to the following settings from within your WebMail:

  1. Move Spam to INBOX
  2. Insert SpamShield Score into messages as header

From within MS Outlook Go to Tools > Rules or Rules Wizard

  1. Create a New Rule
  2. Check Messages When They Arrive
  3. With Specific Words in the Message Header
  4. Click on link to add the word: SpamShieldScore

With SpamShieldScore in the Message Header

  1. Select to move the message to a specified folder
  2. Finish

With this rule, when a received message is above your SpamShield Pro Score setting, the message will arrive into MS Outlook with "X-SpamShield: SpamShieldScore" in the email header.

With the Email Rule settings in Outlook, this message will be moved to the selected folder allowing the user to see the messages that have been flagged as Spam by SpamShield Pro. top

Does SpamShield Pro work with Email Aliases?

An email address protected by SpamShield Pro that has one or more email aliases (e.g. info@, sales@) pointed to it is also protected against unwanted email that may be sent to the email aliases. top

Does SpamShield Pro filter incoming External Email?

SpamShield Pro currently does not analyze messages retrieved from other email accounts in WebMail via the Check External Mail feature. top

How can I reduce False Positives with SpamShield Pro?

Here are some tips to reduce the chance of a false positive, when SpamShield Pro incorrectly marks a message as junk email:

Add the sender to your Approved Senders list:
SpamShield Pro will ignore messages sent from specific email addresses or entire domains on your Approved Senders list. Alternatively, you can use the Email Rules in WebMail to have SpamShield Pro skip messages based on more detailed criteria.
Adjust SpamShield Pro's Sensitivity:
SpamShield Pro considers a message to be spam if its SpamShield Score is greater than the minimum SpamShield Score you set. If you notice that SpamShield Pro is making a lot of mistakes, increase its tolerance by raising the minimum SpamShield Score.

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Do I have to empty the Spam folder?

No. Messages in the Spam folder are deleted automatically by the system, usually after 7-days. top

How does SpamShield Pro calculate the spam score?

SpamShield Pro calculates a SpamShield Score for every message it analyzes. The higher a message's SpamShield Score, the more likely it's junk email.

SpamShield Pro assigns points to a message for suspicious indications of spam such as having "ADV" in the subject line, and reduces points for characteristics of legitimate email such as having a valid sender. On average, a message with a cumulative SpamShield Score greater than 3 is most likely junk email.

You can customize the maximum SpamShield Score that a message is allowed before SpamShield Pro considers it to be spam by adjusting SpamShield Pro's Sensitivity. top

How many items can be stored in the Approved & Blocked Senders lists?

SpamShield Pro Approved Sender and Blocked Sender lists are currently limited to 500 items (email addresses and domains) each. When you reach the limit, the SpamShield Pro Options page will display an error message such as:

New addresses cannot be added to your list because the limit of 500 has been reached. To add new addresses, please delete enough existing addresses so that the limit is not exceeded.

The SpamShield Pro Actions menu will display an error message such as:

stranger@example.net cannot be added to Blocked Sender List because of quota limit

Other SpamShield Pro Actions menu actions, such as moving a message to the Trash folder, will still be performed on the message.

Tip: WebMail Email Rules can be used to approve and block senders based on advanced criteria. For example, to block all messages from stranger@randomsubdomain.example.net, create the following Email Rule:

If Any To or CC Contains the text example.net
Then File in folder named Spam
And Continue processing rules.

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In what order are messages processed with SpamShield Pro?

Messages are processed in the following order:

  1. Anti-Virus
  2. Client Level
    • Blocked Senders List
    • Approved Senders List
    • Email Rules
  3. User Level
  4. Blocked Senders List
    • Approved Senders List
    • Move Spam To Folder (SpamShield Pro Only)
    • Email Rules

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What is the SpamShield Pro Actions Menu?

This menu in WebMail provides quick access to some of SpamShield Pro’s features such as the ability to automatically move a piece of junk email to the Trash and simultaneously add the sender to your Blocked Senders list. top

What is the SpamShield Score Column?

This column in WebMail displays each message's SpamShield Score. Choose Spam Score to sort your messages in ascending order (lowest to highest). Choose Spam Score again to sort your messages in descending order (highest to lowest). top

Why isn't the SpamShield Score inserted as header when the message isn't Spam?

SpamShield Pro currently does not insert the SpamShield Score as a message header if the message is not spam. top

How does SpamShield Lite work?

SpamShield Lite automatically blocks known sources of spam attacks. Intelligent monitors ban specific IP addresses where spam originates. BounceShield rejects bogus returned messages caused by spammers and trojan horses.

To access SpamShield Lite, login to your WebMail account, then choose Options, and then SpamShield Lite. There you will be able to enable/disable BounceShield, the system that blocks returned "bounced" messages that you did not send. This is the only customization feature that is available with SpamShield Lite.

Tip: For advanced spam protection, upgrade to SpamShield Pro. top

Where can I find out more about Email Hoaxes?

Don't fall for an email hoax! Both Sophos and the United States CIAC track the latest Internet hoaxes and chain letters propagated by email. Remember: When in Doubt, Don't Send It Out. top

How do I report deceptive Spam?

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established an educational website about spam. Any deceptive junk email can be reported to the FTC at uce@ftc.gov or via the FTC complaint form.

If you suspect that you have received spam that originated from an EMA client, please forward the message (with all of its headers) to . top

How do you handle complaints that relate to email Spam and Legal issues?

EMA accepts abuse (e.g. spam) complaints and legal inquiries (per the terms of our Privacy Policy) for our entire network.

As a client, EMA protects your email service from most intentional or accidental abuse (e.g. sending spam) by your users. In the event that a third party accuses one or more of your email users of abuse, you may instruct them to contact EMA directly. We can validate the complaint and take appropriate action when necessary. top

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