Online Services & Tools

Spam Filtering Now Available!!!

Dartmouth has installed a product called SpamAssassin to filter spam. BlitzMail or third party email applications can use this filtering system. SpamAssassin does not stop email from getting to you; it simply allows most spam messages to go directly into a folder within your email account rather than cluttering your inbox. You can then periodically review the messages in that folder and decide whether or not to delete.

SpamAssassin Instructions

If your mail is forwarded to another address, SpamAssassin will not filter it for you; you still have two options:

• You will need to "Filter Manually". For manual filtering instructions, please click here.
• You will need to check with your ISP regarding their filtering options and capabilities.

1) In BlitzMail or other email program create a new folder called Spam or a name that you will identify as your spam folder. (This will be the default folder for redirected Spam mail.) You may also use any of our web-based email clients to set up your spam folder at: http://www.dartmouth.org/services/email/access/webmail.html.

2) Close your BlitzMail or other email program.

3) Open your web browser, and go to https://www.dartmouth.org/spamfilt.html.

4) Log in using your (VAN) BlitzMail name and password, and click “continue”.

5) If prompted, accept any Dartmouth certificates and continue.

6) Retype your Blitz (VAN) password and set the Spam score number to 5 to start. On the next line click on the down arrow, and select the Spam folder you created in Step #1. Using a number less than "5" will decrease spam, but may increase the possibility that a valid message is marked as spam. Using a number higher than "5" up to "15" will filter less spam to your spam folder and continue delivery to your InBox.

7) Click “Save Changes” button, and you are done. Exit from your web browser, and restart BlitzMail or other client. From this point forward most spam will be redirected to this folder based on your Spam Score setting number. The lower the number the more spam it will catch.

8) It is good practice to check your Spam folder often to be sure that non-spam messages are not deleted.

Staff who tested it Testimonials:

"During testing I lowered my spam score to "3", checked my spam folder and realized some valid messages were in it. So, I raised the score back up to "5". I still get a little bit of spam, but all of the really obscene messages are redirected to my spam folder. THIS IS GREAT!!!"
-Tony Green

"I used to get 100's of spam messages every day. I have my setting very low at "1" and rarely get any more spam in my InBox."
-Jan Bent

"I am spoiled now. I will never go back to an unfiltered email address. It's so nice to sign in and not have any spam."
-Joe Hill

If you would like to read more about Spam filtering go to: http://www.dartmouth.org/About_Spam_Filtering.html