Anti-Spam
Telecommunications & Network Services has implemented server-side Spam checking on the e-mail server. In-coming e-mail messages from off-campus sources are scanned for specific key words and other elements commonly used in Spam. If the specific words or elements are detected, the scan program determines a level of probability that the message is Spam, and labels that message appropriately. Then the marked message is delivered on to the original addressee. The underlying concept is that the addressee now can review messages as probably being Spam, before actually opening and reading the labeled messages.
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Using the Incoming Mail diagram above, we can illustrate how incoming e-mail is scanned for spam and viruses. To clarify this process, the analogy of how a letter arrives from the post office to your home mailbox will be used.
Much like how your postal mail arrives to your district's post office from anywhere in the world, e-mail arrives to the "mail exchangers" to be sorted and checked. This may be any of the anti-spam servers labeled mx1, mx2, or mx3 in the Incoming Mail diagram. In the case of suspected spam, messages are marked [Spam] in the Subject line. This would be like the post office rubber-stamping the envelope of your postal mail.
Once checked, your e-mail is sent to the proxy server, labeled proxy1 in the Incoming Mail diagram, much like your postal mail is loaded onto a delivery vehicle. As your mail carrier determines the correct location to deliver your mail, the proxy server determines the correct server to deliver your e-mail.
Just as your postal mail is put into your home mailbox, your e-mail is delivered to your personal e-mail box. These mailboxes are kept on the server labeled stmail1 in the Incoming Mail diagram for students, and the server labeled messenger in the Incoming Mail diagram for faculty and staff. For more information about spam and how to sort it in your e-mail program, please refer to the Spam Filter FAQ's.
For additional information about the capabilities of the anti-spam servers, you may refer to the manufacturers' web site given below: