Spasm: Frequently Asked Questions

Questions:

• How do these filters identify spam?
• Can Spasm block specific words like "viagra?"
• How can I make sure email I want is not blocked by the filters?
• Why is mail from a domain I added into my Whitelist still being blocked?
• How do I whitelist all mail from my Yahoo Group?
• How long will spam be held in the quarantine?
• Why is the Quarantine so slow?
• What do I do if I get spam that slips past the filters?
• Do I have to enter my username and password every time I visit Spasm?
• Where can I go for help with these new spam filters?
• What kind of name is "Spasm" anyway?

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Answers:

How do these filters identify spam?

The filters identify spam by identifying servers that have historically been used to send spam and denying any mail sent from those mail servers. This explanation is an oversimplification, as some of the spam filters will reject mail using other criteria. Most filters are explained in the Custom Settings section of the documentation accessible through Spasm's Help menu.  

Can Spasm block specific words like "viagra?"

A filter called SpamAssassin is turned on at the Medium level. SpamAssassin will block some email based upon words appearing in the message. This is not adjustable by our staff or users, so we are unable to adjust these filters to block specific words based upon customer requests.

How can I make sure email I want is not blocked by the filters?

Spam filtering is as much of an art as it is a science. Since spammers are constantly searching for ways to circumvent spam filters, any filtering solution that blocks spam will often block valid email that accidentally fits the criteria used to identify a message as spam.

The simplest way to ensure valid email is not blocked by Spasm is to add the sender's email address to your Whitelist. Check the Spasm quarantine often, as new spam filters require babysitting to ensure valid email is not blocked. If you see a message you want delivered, choose to View the message then hit the "Whitelist Sender" button. Any valid messages caught in the quarantine can be delivered to your mailbox directly from the quarantine.

Why is mail from a domain I added into my Whitelist still being blocked?

Whitelisted domain names must be preceded with an "@" sign. For example, if you wanted to receive all email from senders at domain.com, you would add "@domain.com" to your whitelist (without the quotation marks).

How do I whitelist all mail from my Yahoo Group?

To whitelist all Yahoo Groups at once, enter  @returns.groups.yahoo.com  into your Whitelist.

How long will spam be held in the quarantine?

Suspected spam is held in the quarantine for two weeks before it is automatically deleted.  This setting is user-configurable, so if you want Spasm to hold messages in the quarantine for either more or less time, go to Preferences and use the "Quarantine Messages Expire in..." drop-down menu to specify how long Spasm should retain quarantined messages.

Why is the quarantine so slow?

The biggest factor affecting the speed of Spasm's interface is the size of your quarantine. Quarantines with thousands of messages will always respond slowly since Spasm has to reload the entire quarantine each time the quarantine is displayed.

What do I do if I get spam that slips past the filters?

You have a few choices when you receive spam that slips past the filters:

1. You can increase the sensitivity of the filters. To do this, log in to Spasm and hit the Mail Filters button. Moving the radio button to the right and hitting the Update button will increase the sensitivity of the spam filters. Turning up the sensitivity of the spam filters will also increase the likelihood of blocking valid email, so make sure you keep a close eye on the quarantine after you increase the sensitivity of the spam filters.
2. If your settings are already at Medium or higher, forward any spam you receive to Spamreport@aracnet.com. Spam forwarded to that address must have the original message headers intact. Forwarding the message as an attachment will automatically retain the full message headers in Netscape or Mozilla. Forwarding a message as an attachment in Outlook or Outlook Express will not leave the headers intact. For instructions on obtaining and forwarding headers in a variety of mail programs, see our Email page. Forwarded spam will be added to our Local Filters, which are enabled at the Medium filtering setting or higher.
3. Or, you can manually add the server used to send the spam to your Blacklist. This can be complicated, so if you don't know how to identify mail servers in message headers, use one of the other options above.

Do I have to enter my username and password every time I visit Spasm?

No. Spasm can save your username and password, taking you directly to your quarantine when ever you visit Spasm. Here's how to make Spasm keep you logged in between sessions:

1. Log in to Spasm
2. Hit the Preferences button
3. Put a check mark in Keep me logged in.
4. Hit the Update Preferences button to save the change.

Where can I go for help with these new spam filters?

Our support department will be happy to assist you with configuring and accessing Spasm. Our support department can be reached via email at Support@SpiritOne.com, or by phone at 503-240-8200.

Further assistance can be found on the Aracnet.general newsgroup. Many of the beta testers of Spasm frequent that newsgroup, as does the creator of Spasm.

What kind of name is "Spasm" anyway?

Spasm stands for "Spasm Anti-Spam Milter." The name was specifically chosen by the creator of Spasm for ease of use so users of Spasm could refer to it by a convenient English word rather than having to remember yet another confusing technical acronym.