PCSC

Setting up Spam Filtering in Horde

BU uses SpamAssassin to tag messages as they pass through our central gateways. This page explains how to use those tags to block and/or filter spam so that it does not reach your inbox.

Step 1: Block spam (already set by default) and adjust the settings as needed

By default, BU e-mail accounts do not receive spam that is tagged at a level of 7.5 or higher. You can choose to modify your spam block settings to make them more or less restrictive. However, please keep in mind that you will always get some unwanted mail. You need to be careful not to set such a low threshold that you block mail you do want. To help with unwanted mail that comes in with a score below ~7.5, we'd suggest filtering. If you would like to read more about blocking vs. filtering, please see our related page.

Step 2: OPTIONAL: Filter the remaining spam into a separate folder

  1. After you log into Horde, click on the Filters menu item on the left of your screen.

  2. Now click on the New Rule button.

Step 3: Name and define your rule

  1. Next to Rule Name, type in a name for your new rule.
  2. Click next to All of the following and set the first drop down menu to say: X-Score-High
  3. Tab to the next field and make sure it says Contains.
  4. Tab to the third field and type the word YES.

Your window should now look like this:

 

Step 4: Specify what will happen to mail that meets these conditions

  1. In the Do this section, select Deliver to mailbox.
  2. Tab to the next field to select where your spam should go. You can select an existing mailbox, or you can create a new one.
  3. To create a new mailbox, pull down to Create New Folder.
  4. When prompted, type a name for your folder (for example, Spam) and click OK .

  5. Important: once you create the new folder, it will not be automatically selected as your spam destination; you must now go back to the pull-down menu and select the new folder (for example, "Spam") as your "Deliver To" location.
  6. Click Save.

Step 5: Apply and Save your filter

  1. Click on Apply Filters to apply your new rule to any existing mail.
  2. Make sure that the option for "Display detailed notification when each filter is applied?" is unchecked. Then click on Save Settings.

What happens next

  1. Filtering a large number of messages can take significant time so, by default, Horde does not apply your filters automatically when you first log in or when you subsequently view your Inbox. By default, new mail will not be filtered until you manually run your filters again.

    To run your filters manually: The filter icon is located next to the Inbox (#) heading, where "#" is the number of new messages in your Inbox. It is the second icon from the left and looks a little like a funnel. If you place your mouse over the icon for a moment it should display a descriptive message, "Apply filters on Inbox (#)" .

    To specify that your filters should run automatically: You can specify that your filters should run automatically each time you log in or redisplay your Inbox by following the instructions below. This may significantly delay display of your mailbox each time you log in or return to the Inbox from other functions in Horde. Delays might range from several seconds to a minute or even more while the filters run -- the more messages being filtered, the longer the delay -- but some people may find this preferable to having to run the filters manually (which would take just as long, but would be only at a time of your own choosing). The delays incurred by running your filters automatically may make Horde seem to run sluggishly.

    1. Select "Options" from the menu.
    2. Make sure that the Options page viewed is called "Options for Mail". If not, you'll need to select "Mail" from the "Edit options for:" drop down menu.
    3. Select "Filters" from the "Other Options" group.
    4. Check the box for "Apply filter rules upon logging on?"
    5. Also check the box for "Apply filter rules whenever INBOX is diplayed?"
    6. Click the "Save Options" button at the bottom of the screen.

    Before leaving the page where you just clicked "Save Options", you can now make the filter process much more efficient (saving time whenever you log in or redisplay your Inbox), by following just a few more steps:

    1. In the "Filter Settings" section of this page, click on "Edit your filter rules".
    2. On the page that appears, in the "Additional Settings" section, change the drop down menu to display "Filter Only Unseen Messages" instead of "Filter All Messages".
    3. Click on "Save Settings".

    If you later change your mind and decide not to run your filters automatically, you should also go back and reverse the steps just above, i.e., you should change the drop down menu to display "Filter All Messages" instead of "Filter Only Unseen Messages". This will avoid confusion.

  2. Your spam mail will NOT be deleted, but it will be moved to the folder you defined (for example, the folder "Spam").
  3. You should check your spam folder every few days and delete the spam. To look in your spam folder, use the Folders button at the top of your Horde screen and then select your "Spam" folder, or use the drop-down menu in the upper right corner.
    • If you notice that any mail in this folder is not spam, you can rescue it. Select the message and use the Messages To drop-down menu to select a destination folder. Now click Move to restore it.
    • When you are sure that everything in the Spam folder is really spam, first make sure you are looking at the correct folder, then use the Select drop-down menu and choose Select: All. Finally, use the Mark As drop down menu to choose Mark As: Deleted. Finally, click the Purge Deleted link on the right hand side of your mailbox window. Goodbye, spam!

If you'd like more information about SpamAssassin and spam filtering, please visit the PCSC's spam page at www.bu.edu/pcsc/email/spam.