Content Filtering, the other Spam Crime Fighter

In addition to the Spam Filtering tool offered by SmarterMail, you can use Content Filtering to further reduce the amount of spam you receive.  The difference between Spam Filtering and Content Filtering is that Spam Filtering filters a message on a more generic basis (think of a wide net) while Content Filtering filters a message specifically based on the rule you set up (think of plugging up a particular hole in the net).

Let’s see this in action.  First, let’s access the feature by:

1. Log into SmarterMail with the postmaster account.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Expand the folders Domain Settings -> Filtering.
4. Click on Content Filtering.

Now, click on the New button to create a new rule.  This will start a wizard and bring up the next screen which provides a plethora of specific criteria you can filter messages by.  For example, if you notice that a lot of the spam messages are coming from a particular email address, you can filter all messages from that address.

In this tutorial, I will do just that.  I will go ahead and check the From Address box and click on Next.  This brings up an AND/OR conditional screen which allows you to define more ‘complex’ rules. I will keep it simple by entering a single Gmail address I will be sending a test message from and click on Next to continue.

Now, I will name my rule and select one of 7 actions to take:

Mark as read
Do not deliver
Move message
Prefix subject
Add Header
Copy Message
Reroute message

I have checked the Move message box and in the field, I typed in “Deleted Items” for the name of the folder I want the message placed in.  I click on Save to complete the rule.  Now, I send a test message from my specific Gmail account, and voila, the message is automatically placed in the Deleted Items folder.

If you notice, there is another message waiting in my Inbox.  I discovered on initial testing that the Spam Filtering rules take precedent over any Content Filtering rules.  This means if the message was processed by Spam Filtering, it will not trigger any of the rules you’ve setup in Content Filtering.  Please keep this in mind when you are setting up new rules.  By using a proper combination of Spam Filtering and Content Filtering, you can greatly reduce the amount of spam you receive.