SPAM Filtering

SPAM filtering is available on the Mailhub email system at Purdue University. For more information read Frequently Asked Questions about Spam Filtering. ITaP has developed the following best practices to help reduce the amount of spam email you receive.

1. If the sender of a message is unknown to you (unverified) and/or the subject line of the email is offensive or unknown, immediately delete the email message. Opening the email may prove more offensive then the subject line.
2. Do not respond or unsubscribe to an "opt-out" email address/link or sender asking to be removed from the list UNLESS the message comes from a company or organization you recognize and trust. Often times responding or asking to unsubscribe from a list is a ploy by the spammers to verify your email address. Once email addresses are verified, the spammers generate a known list of users that they might sell for profit or for further spamming activities.
3. Avoid publicizing your Purdue email address. You increase your chances of being spammed the more your email is seen on public bulletin boards, newsgroups, and chat rooms.
4. If you are the owner of a majordomo distribution list, consider moderating all emails sent to the list. Because these lists are used on many public Purdue websites, they often are searched and used to distribute mass emails to many users. Moderating the list will allow all emails to be approved before sent to a mass group of individuals. To moderate email lists, owners should ensure the yes field is selected under the "moderate" field in the configuration options available from the majorcool web interface. In addition, be cautious assigning your list to other email distribution lists or email notification services. This could provide unwanted email to members of your list.
5. Consider filtering incoming email on your email client software. Information on how to filter email can be found in the client email help file (located from the toolbar of the email software). However, spammers rarely use the same email address more than once, so you could spend some effort establishing the filter.
6. Finally, if you receive email that is threatening or could potentially cause physical harm, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency to file a report with the information that you have, including the email message and email header. Again, information on how to locate header information of an email message can be found in your client email help file.

If there are further questions concerning spam or questions concerning these best practices, please send an email to it-securityhelp@purdue.edu.