Instructions for using MBAY's Spam filtering server.
Version .13

Introduction


MBAY is pleased to offer the new Spam/virus filtering server. It uses a core set of rule categories to provide content filtering

  • 1. Pornography & Sexuality
  • 2. Unsolicited Offers & Get Rich Schemes
  • 3. Derogatory & Racial
  • 4. Misc. Chain Letters, etc.

    • Additionally you can block or allow based on the address of the sender or the domain. We are seeing an 85% Spam capture rate and a 100% virus capture rate. No reconfiguration of your email program is required. Additionally, it is compatible with MBAY's Web based email program MailMan.

    MBAY would like to point out that this server requires your intervention to work most effectively. In the first week you should login to your email Quarantine manager especially if you haven't turned on your spam digest to deliver daily, depending on your email habits. The more configuration work you do in the beginning the more effective it will be for you.

    The Spam Filter Server works on three different levels. The first is by the rule categories, then by MBAY specific rules and finally using your own rules. The process scans our email and updates the Quarantine rules as needed. The rule set includes email addresses and certain words. MBAY monitors the email coming through and adds email addresses that aren't included in the base rules. Finally you the user will add rules that will either allow or deny access to your email box.

    Emails are scanned by the server and checked against known "markers" indicating a virus. The viruses are removed and the remaining email is stored in the Quarantine area for your inspection and processing. The virus rules are updated every 20 minutes to stay current with the newest variants. The Anti-Virus capturing is not meant to substitute for Anti-Virus software on your computer. MBAY asks that you use and keep updated an Anti-Virus program on your machine so that your valuable data is not lost.

    How does it work? All email directed to MBAY is currently passing through the filtering server before being delivered to MBAY's mail server and ultimately your email box. Those people who have subscribed to the service are having their mail captured for inspection and based on rule sets described above either quarantined on the server or passed on to your email box. If a piece of mail is caught as Spam then it will remain in the quarantine manager until you delete/deliver it or eventually it will be automatically deleted from the server.

    We have discovered that the Spam filter is not for everybody. If, for example, you have a web site and it generates a lot of email from a variety of users then it might prove to be too labor intensive to create many allow rules. This is because the Spam Filter works primarily by email address.

    Note: Please check your quarantine manager at least weekly or have the spam digest delivered often enough so you can see what is being caught. The server will delete email left on the server automatically after 10 days.


    Menu Choices in the Quarantine Manager


    There are four menu choices Quarantine, Rules, Settings and Logout. The following is a summary of each. Each Menu choice will be discussed in detail in the next section

    Quarantine- The quarantine is where the mail that has been caught as Spam resides. From here you will have the choice of delivering the mail or deleting it.
    Rules - The Rules area is where the user can write their own rules for Quarantining mail.
    Settings - There are three settings that control functions of the Spam filter.
    Logout - The user disconnects from the server using this menu choice.

    Getting Started

    -
    To log into your Quarantine manager go to: http://mbay.usonline.com/pim/mailfiltering/login.cfm. When the page is fully loaded the following screen will appear.


    Note that my complete email address is included where it says E-mail:. Your password is the same as the one for your email. If you are unsure what it is please contact us and we will reset it for you. When you have completed these two items hit Enter or Return on your keyboard or click your mouse on Login located to the right of Password.

    The Quarantine Manager Interface



    Once you have entered your email address and password in the appropriate fields a screen similar to the one shown below will appear. From this screen you will be able to control the quarantined Email. The quarantine screen is divided into three columns. The first is a check box followed by the sender's email address, the subject line and finally the date of delivery. Unless you specify otherwise a list of 20 emails will be shown on your screen. There is a number at the bottom of the screen which indicates additional messages in your box. In the example above I have 8 Messages that need processing. If I want to View one of the messages I simply click on the subject in the Subject column. An example of the Message looks like this.


    In the Viewing screen you can have the email delivered or deleted simply by pushing Deliver or Delete in the upper right hand corner. If you are done and want to return to the Quarantine screen simply click on the Quarantine above the message.

    I suggest that you go through the emails and first determine which are to be deleted. Make this determination CAREFULLY!!! Once they are deleted they CANNOT be undeleted (no how, no way - don't even ask). Select those messages you wish to delete by checking the box in the left most column and click on the Delete button. If you wish to select them all (for either delivery or deletion) click on Select All and choose Delete or Deliver. After the emails have been deleted then go through and individually check the emails that you'd like to have Delivered. I suggest that you select and Deliver these one at a time so you can determine how you want the server to handle the individual email. Below I have selected an email from a friend who has been quarantined. I have check the email and clicked on deliver. Once the Deliver button is pushed the following screen will appear.


    Your choices are:
    Just Deliver the Message- This choice will just deliver the message once but keep on quarantining mail from the same sender.

    Deliver the Message and from now on always deliver from (email address) - Selecting this option will create a rule to always allow that email address to send messages to your inbox.

    Deliver the Message and from now on, always deliver messages from anyone at (domain name) - Selecting this message will create a rule to deliver the message from anyone at that domain. An example of this would be that say you want all messages from your work place to come through. Let's say that your email address (domain name) is: workplace.com. Selecting this option would allow all email from your workplace to come through the server from now on.

    If you select the remainder of the emails on the screen and click the Deliver button they will be passed through however the server will continue to block them. You MUST select Deliver and an option above or the message will continue to be blocked. There is an exception and that is the next section.

    The Rules Screen




    The Rules Screen is shown above. There are only two options. You can add a rule or delete a rule. When you add a rule you will either allow mail to come through or deny mail to come through. When you delete a rule you have erased something that was added either from a Delivery in the Quarantine screen or one you have created here. In other words when you add either an email address or an entire domain in the Quarantine Screen it gets stored as a rule here where it can be viewed and/or deleted.

    Ok. To add a rule type in the email address of the person you'd like to have blocked or Allowed. For example, you might type the address Spam@Spam.com in the Email Address box, click on Allow or Block Action then click Add. From that point on the address will be sent to your mailbox or held in the quarantine until you change the setting. To Delete a rule simply check the box to the left of the Rule(s) you wish to delete and press the Delete button.

    Below are examples of settings which will block or allow many email addresses. A description of what the setting will do follows.

  • 1. matt@Spam.com This will Add/Block matt@Spam.com.
  • 2. *@Spam.com This will Add/Block everyone from Spam.com.
  • 3. *@*.Spam.com This will Add/Block everyone from every server at Spam.com.
    Two and three should be used together to Add/Block an entire domain.

    The Settings Tab

    The Settings tab has three simple settings to select. They are as follows:
    Digest Mode- By default the setting is on. With Digest Mode on a digest of all quarantined messages will be sent to you nightly (sometime after Midnight each night).

    Items to Display- You can change the number of items displayed in the screen. This setting works in the Quarantine Screen and Rules Screen.

    Process Mode- You can turn Quarantining off for any reason. Examples might be that your are on Vacation or have a problem with your email.


    Conclusions- MBAY is pleased to offer you this Spam filtering server to you. You MUST be careful when you use it as mistakes can cost you email. If you have any suggestions please let us know.

    Thank you.
    Monterey Bay Internet