Frequently Asked Questions
and Learning Guides
Spam
It has been possible for email users to filter spam since testing was completed in 2004. This capability is possible at the client side and can be done by the user. Spam filtering instructions are below.
These instructions in Adobe PDF format were added today: They are courtesy of Dan Mroz at the Mont Alto Campus. Their main advantage is that the instructions are up to date and very specific with screen examples.
OUTLOOK SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
EUDORA SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
THUNDERBIRD SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
Just added 9/1/-6 --> Please note that IIT recommends Webmail2.
Webmail2 has several advantages over client based emails such as Eudora and Outlook
You can use it anywhere that there is an internet connection
It has the X-PSU-Spam-Flag filters already built in. Many of you are using email clients that do not have this filter
You can setup other filters in Webmail2.
Webmail2 also has at least one disadvantage
Experienced Outlook users have sychronized their palm devices to work with Outlook
Please note that IIT recommends the latest versions of Outlook and Eudora for client based email (email that resides on your PC)
When I downloaded and installed Eudora, these settings were not automatically installed.
You will need to read the "How to create spam filters" below.
History of the spam filtering trial
OUTLOOK SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
EUDORA SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
THUNDERBIRD SPAM FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
Using Eudora to create spam filters if you prefer to see screen examples. The example above is useful also.
Penn State's standard operating procedure for handling spam
Besides creating spam filters, there are some best practices that you, the user, can do to reduce spam. Reporting spam can be difficult if you are getting a lot of it but actions you can take, such as reducing harvesting of your email address, giving out your Penn State email address at the wrong places on the internet, and using a disposable email address are all best practices. The web sites are here:
By the way, IIT never advises users to forward their email to another address. Students especially can be harmed by such a practice because they are held responsible for Penn State's communications to them, their Penn State email address is used. Everyone risks harvesting when they forward their email. Also, some of these free email boxes fill up.
http://sos.its.psu.edu/spam.html
http://sos.its.psu.edu/disposable.html - this is not forwarding, it is selective use of an alternate email address for specific business purposes.
Whitelisting - such a practice allows only email from people you know to arrive in your mailbox. It would involve you having to set up an Address Book entry for every sender from whom you might want to receive an e-mail message. The outcome of this process is to separate all the psu.edu email addresses from the others. You have to set up two filters. Instructions are here:
http://css.its.psu.edu/internet/filterspam.html
Blacklisting - Outlook has certain definitions for junk and adult mail. Blacklisting can pick up text from spam mail you have received in the past such as "hoodia" or adult words. You can set filters for these and have those messages transferred to a spam mailbox of your creating. Those definitions and instructions to start your own blacklist are here:
Offensive images - these may be the worst of the spam e-mails. You can filter out all e-mail that contains images. A best practice here is not to click on a link or open an email from someone you do not know. Again, instructions are here:
http://css.its.psu.edu/internet/filterspam.html
Web resources for spam - there are many sites you can visit to help win the battle against spam:
How to Filter Junk and Adult Content E-mail in Outlook - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=195398
About the Junk E-mail Filter in Outlook 2003 - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP052429671033.aspx
Best Practices for managing junk email, Outlook 2003 - same address as above
Twenty more articles concerning junk email in Outlook 2003 - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH063564711033.aspx
Creating an alternate email ID. This practice allows you to set up aliases that would help you use email addresses that are unique: See example below. You need to do this at www.work.psu.edu.
This page is maintained by robertb@psu.edu.
Updated 02 November 2006
