Spam Frequently Asked Questions
Spam Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions:
- What is spam?
- What is phishing?
- What are viruses?
- Are you deleting my mail?
- Are you looking at my email?
- Can you filter my departmental / regional email address?
- What happens to the spam?
- What if a message is mistakenly identified as spam?
- Can I block mail based on language?
- What is the default spam filtering setting?
- Why was this message identified as spam?
- This email wasn't identified as Phishing -- does this mean it's from my bank?
- How can I 'whitelist' a user or domain?
- How can I 'blacklist' a user or domain?
- How can I see all the mail in my quarantine?
- Email expired from my quarantine. Can you get it back?
- I deleted a message from my quarantine. Can you get it back?
- How long are messages stored in the quarantine?
- Do I have to delete spam from my quarantine?
- What is the End User Digest?
- Can I change how often I get my End User Digest?
- Can I receive my End User Digest in a different language?
- Why didn't I receive a End User Digest this morning?
- How can I opt out of spam filtering?
General Questions:
What is spam?
Unsolicited Bulk Email is often referred to as spam. These are advertisements for everything from casinos to medication and so on. The anti-spam services we provide will help eliminate spam from your mail box.
Back to topWhat is phishing?
Phishing refers to deceptive practice of mimicking legitimate email in an attempt to get the receiver to divulge important information, such as a credit card or social security number.
Back to topWhat are viruses?
Computer viruses are programs that are often distributed via email. Computer viruses are an inconvenience at best, and dangerous to your computer at worst.
Back to topAre you deleting my email?
By default, we set aside email identified as a threat. We will, by default, send you a summary of the past day's spam every morning. After twenty one days, however, messages in your quarantine do expire and automatically delete themselves.
Back to topAre you looking at my email?
No one actually looks at your email. Spam is identified programmatically.
Back to topCan you filter my departmental / regional email address?
No. We only filter mail with a destination of @kent.edu.
Back to topQuestions related to spam filtering:
What happens to the spam?
By default, mail identified as a threat is stored in a user's quarantine. Users with traditional @kent.edu email addresses will receive an email every morning summarizing the spam received and stored in the user's quarantine in the past 24 hours.
Back to topWhat if a message is mistakenly identified as spam?
If you find a message in your End User Digest that is not spam, you may click the "Not Spam" link to the left of the email. This will let our spam solution know that it blocked a legitimate e-mail. To prevent emails from that particular address from being identified as spam in the future click "Safe List." To send the message to your normal e-mail client click "Release".
Back to topCan I block mail based on language?
No. This is no longer necessary.
Back to topWhat is the default spam filtering setting?
By default, we filter mail identified as spam, viruses, and phishing for every @kent.edu email address. The anti-spam solution also route mail for several other servers, but we only provide virus and fraud filtering.
Back to topWhy was this message identified as spam?
Our anti-spam solution identifies spam based on thousands of characteristics.
Back to topThis email wasn't identified as Phishing -- does this mean it's from my bank?
While we strive to protect users from phishing and other fraudulent email attacks, the system is not perfect. Please use caution when responding to any message that appears to come from your bank. Keep in mind that reputable banks will never ask you for your account details via email. When in doubt, call your bank.
Back to topHow can I 'whitelist' a user or domain?
How can I 'blacklist' a user or domain?You can permit any email from an individual email address by logging in to http://spam.kent.edu, clicking the "Lists" module button in the lower left, and adding email addresses to either the Safe or Blocked senders lists by clicking the the appropriate list and clicking "New" at the top.
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Questions related to the quarantine:How can I see all the mail in my quarantine(junk box)?
Users can log in to http://spam.kent.edu by providing their full email address and password. Users are then taken to their quarantine, which contains the complete 10 days worth of spam.
Back to topEmail expired from my quarantine. Can you get it back?
No.
I deleted a message from my quarantine. Can you get it back?
Back to topHow long are messages kept in the quarantine?
Email stored in the quarantine automatically deletes itself after 10 days.
Back to topDo I have to delete spam from my quarantine?
No. Email stored in the quarantine automatically deletes itself after 10 days.
Back to topQuestions related to the quarantine summary:
What is the End User Digest?
The End User Digest is a brief email listing each email identified as spam. The summary lists the sender's email address, the subject of the email, and the threat (spam, virus, phishing). You can view the contents of the message by clicking the email in your summary. You may need to provide your Flashline ID and password to view the contents of the message.
Back to topCan I change how often I get my End User Digest?
No, but you can opt out by logging into http://spam.kent.edu. First go to the Profile module and deselect "Send digest with new messages in my End User Digest." To finish click "Save" in the upper left corner to save the changes.
Back to topCan I receive my End User Digest in a different language?
Yes. Log in to the service at http://spam.kent.edu with your email address and password, and click the button labeled 'Profile.' Select your preferred language from the drop down box.
Back to topWhy didn't I receive a End User Digest this morning?
Our spam solution only sends a summary if it has identified mail as a threat. If no messages have been quarantined, then you will not receive a End User Digest.
Back to topOpting out:
How can I opt out of spam filtering?
Yes. You must contact the Helpdesk at 330-672-HELP(4357)
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