Spam
From Support Wiki
Proofpoint Anti-Spam Software at The Graduate Center
Revised Fall 2005
Proofpoint Anti-Spam software analyzes e-mail entering The Graduate Center and moves spam and suspicious messages into user-specific quarantines. Proofpoint also allows users to customize how the system manages spam and suspicious messages.
- E-mail messages are not ‘dropped’ or deleted; messages spam and suspicious messages are moved into user-specific quarantines.
- Users receive server-generated e-mail digests listing recently identified spam and suspicious messages so that users can review items and release legitimate messages.
- Quarantined items are automatically deleted every 14 days.
The Proofpoint Digest
- Review items listed in your digest to ensure legitimate email is not quarantined.
- Please be aware, Proofpoint occasionally sees legitimate bulk e-mail as spam. You can examine items on the list and take further action if desired.
- If all items in your digest are spam, no action is needed.
Actions you can take:
1. Release a message from quarantine to be delivered to your Inbox 2.
3. Release a message and add the sender your personal Safe Senders list: Future messages from this sender will not be sent to the quarantine
Manage your Proofpoint account by using links in the digest to the Proofpoint server:
4. Generate an updated digest of all items in your quarantine (items received since the prior digest was generated)
5. Generate a list of senders that you have identified as "safe" or senders that you have asked to be "blocked" from sending you e-mail
6. Edit your Safe Senders and Blocked Senders Lists
7. Set your Proofpoint account preferences in your profile
The Proofpoint Server
1. Click on Lists to review and edit your Safe Senders and Blocked Senders Lists
To add an address to your “Safe Senders” or “Blocked Senders” Lists (fig. 1 and fig. 2):
- Select the list you want to edit
- Click New on the toolbar
- Enter the e-mail address in the space provided
- Click Save
Note: Portions of an e-mail address, such as a domain (@isp-name.com, for example) can be added to the Safe Senders or Blocked Senders lists to allow / block e-mail traffic from that domain Note: It is not necessary to add addresses from the Global Address List to your Safe Senders List
2. Click on Profile to review and change your account settings
On the “My Settings” window:
- Select whether to send a Digest only when you have new messages blocked or even when you don’t
- Select no spam filtering or to use the Global Spam Policy
- Click Save
Proofpoint Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I still get spam?
Spam evolves quicker than filters evolve to catch them. Proofpoint is constantly updated as new types of appear. Rarely, some items may slip through our filters. As an alternative solution in that event, you can add the sender to your Blocked Senders List.
How do I delete the spam in my digest?
Spam quarantined by the Proofpoint server and listed in a digest is automatically deleted after 14 days. If you want the items deleted, no further action is required.
How do I add an e-mail address from my digest to my Blocked Senders List?
E-mail addresses of messages appearing in your daily Digest are already blocked. However, if you wish to manually edit your Blocked Senders list, you can do so by accessing the Proofpoint server from your Digest and clicking the link for Lists. Additional instructions are above.
When are digests distributed?
Digests are distributed twice a day, at 7am and 4pm, only if spam is quarantined for you. You can change these settings by updating your profile.
Why did nothing happen when I clicked on a link in my Digest?
Pop-up blockers can prevent Proofpoint windows from launching. You can try these solutions:
- Hold the CTRL key while clicking the links contained in your Digest
- Disable pop-up blocker programs
- Mark the site to allow pop-ups
- Disable Internet Explorer pop-up blocker from the Tools menu in IE
Why can’t I click on the link contained in my Digest?
Unfortunately, text based e-mail messages will not contain active links to web pages like the Proofpoint server, only the address of the site on the Internet. You must enable HTML e-mail in order to use the links in the Proofpoint Digest To enable HTML mail:
- Launch Microsoft Outlook
- Click on Tools | Options | Mail Format
- Select HTML in the pull down window for “Compose in this message format”
- Click OK
What if I am missing an important e-mail?
Proofpoint never discards e-mail. Mail containing spam is displayed in your daily digests. Messages containing a virus that could not be disinfected are not displayed in your digests but they are kept on the Proofpoint server for 14 days. If you suspect you are still missing e-mail, contact the Help Desk.
I don't want my e-mail filtered for spam and quarantined on Proofpoint. Can I change how spam is filtered? How can I update my profile?
Click on the "Manage My Account" link in any Proofpoint digest you receive and then click on the "Profiles" button on the bottom left of the web page displayed. Choose the type of spam filter you prefer from the list.
Does Proofpoint detect viruses?
Proofpoint detects and cleans or quarantines viruses using F-Secure Anti-Virus software. Proofpoint then sends the incoming e-mail (without the attachment) to your e-mail account. All messages are also scanned a second time on the e-mail server.
What else does Proofpoint block?
Proofpoint blocks incoming e-mail greater than 10 MB in size and removes executable file attachments. The following file attachments are automatically removed: 386, 3gr, add, ade, app, asp, asx, bas, bat, chm, cmd, com, cpl, crt, css, dbx, dll, exe, fon, fxp, hlp, hta, inf, ins, isp, js, jse, lnk, mdb, mde, msc, msi, msp, mst, ocx, pcd, pif, reg, scr, sct, shs, shb, url, vb, vbe, vbs, vxd, wsc, wsf, wsh.
