PureMessage is a mail-filtering program that runs on the email server. All ingoing and outgoing email messages pass through PureMessage. The PureMessage filter looks for certain message characteristics and performs actions on the message when these characteristics are found.
This document describes PureMessage from the perspective of a user whose email is filtered by PureMessage. Except for the description of quarantine digests (which are not enabled by default), it describes the default PureMessage configuration.
PureMessage contains several hundred spam tests that analyze individual characteristics of each message. Each of these tests has a numerical weight. When a message is analyzed by PureMessage, the weights from all the spam tests that matched the message are added up and converted to a spam score that expresses the message's "spam probability".
By default, PureMessage only checks for spam in messages that originate from outside the network, not in messages that originate within the local domain. If a message is found to have a spam probability of 50% or more, it is copied to the PureMessage Quarantine. By default, PureMessage also delivers these messages, but alters the message's subject heading to show its spam probability. It also adds an "X-PerlMx-Spam" header to the message. Either of the modifications can be used to configure filters in your email program. See Mail Client Filters for instructions.
The End User Web Interface (EUWI) gives PureMessage users access to email-filtering features. Users can view and manage messages that are quarantined (blocked) by PureMessage, manage user-specific sender lists, and configure various email-filtering options.
The EUWI is comprised of the following components:
Note: Depending on administrator settings, you may not have access to all EUWI pages and email-filtering functionality. Contact your PureMessage administrator for more information.
Access the End User Web Interface (EUWI) via the web link sent by your system administrator. A PureMessage administrator can give you access to the EUWI by either emailing you the access information or having you request a password through the EUWI. Alternatively, the administrator may add a link in quarantine digests to the EUWI.
Notification from the Administrator
Usually, the PureMessage Administrator sends you an email message
containing your EUWI login and password. This message also contains a web link
to the EUWI (for example, https://computer.example.com:28443
).
To access the EUWI:
Requesting a Password
Before you request a password, the PureMessage administrator must send you
an email message containing the web link to the EUWI (for example,
https://computer.example.com:28443
). After obtaining this
link, proceed as follows:
If you send multiple authorization requests, only the latest request grants you access to the EUWI.
When you receive an email message from the PureMessage administrator:
The Blocked Messages page displays all email messages that are quarantined by PureMessage due to spam content. Using the Blocked Messages page, you can:
You can sort quarantined messages based on the spam Score, the email address listed in the From header, the message's Subject, or the Date the message was delivered. Note that the date column displays the time in hours and minutes for messages blocked in the last 24 hours. Both the time and date are shown for messages blocked more than 24 hours ago.
To view a blocked message:
Use the Deliver Message feature to release legitimate messages from the PureMessage Quarantine and deliver them to your mailbox.
Use the Delete Message feature to remove messages from the Blocked Messages page and send them to the Deleted Messages page.
Use the Deliver and Approve Sender feature to send the selected message(s) to your mailbox and add the sender(s) of those messages to your Approved Senders list.
Use the Delete All feature to remove all messages from the Blocked Messages page and send them to the Deleted Messages page.
Displays messages deleted from the Blocked Messages page. Sort deleted messages based on spam Score, the email address listed in the From header, the message's Subject, or the Date the message was blocked. Note that the date column displays the time in hours and minutes for messages blocked in the last 24 hours. Both the time and date are shown for messages blocked more than 24 hours ago.
Use the Delete Messages feature to view and undelete messages. Undeleted messages are sent back to the Blocked Messages page.
To undelete a message:
The Approved Senders page lists email addresses that are known to be legitimate sources of email. By default, PureMessage delivers email from approved senders and hosts without scanning it for spam. Use the Approved Senders feature to add or delete senders from the Approved Senders list.
The Blocked Senders page lists email addresses that are known to distribute spam or viruses. The End User Web Interface can be configured to block messages originating from addresses in this list. Use the Blocked Senders feature to add or delete senders from the Blocked Senders list.
Use the Options page to set or modify individual PureMessage email-filtering preferences.
Use the Hold Messages option to keep messages for longer than the set number of days (for example, during a vacation). With the Hold Messages option you specify a hold date using the day, month, and year drop-down lists.
Note: This feature is only available if the system administrator has enabled it. If the administrator disables this setting, the Language Preference portion of the Options page is not displayed.
Use the Language Preference option to change the language in which the End User Web Interface (and this documentation) is displayed.
When the PureMessage filter detects that a message has a 50% or greater likelihood of containing spam, the message is stored in the PureMessage Quarantine instead of being delivered. Quarantine digests are email messages generated by PureMessage that list each user's quarantined messages.
Quarantine digests display the quarantine message ID number, the spam probability percentage, the message's "From" address, and the message's "Subject". To release a single message from the Quarantine, click on the ID number. This generates an email to PureMessage; the message is automatically released. To release all listed messages from the Quarantine, reply to the message.
Some email clients (such as Microsoft Outlook) have built-in message filtering that can be enabled by the end user. These filters can result in quarantine digests being filtered by the end user's email client. In most cases, you can configure a list for built-in message filtering.
For example, when you enable the "Junk E-Mail" filter or "Adult Content" filter in Microsoft Outlook, a list rule is automatically created that exempts specific addresses from these filters. To edit the list, select Tools|Rules Wizard, and add the "From" address in your quarantine digest to the list.
In the default policy configuration, PureMessage delivers all mail regardless of the spam probability. However, it modifies the subject line of messages that have a spam probability of 50% or more. Email clients can be configured to filter messages based on this message characteristic.
In the following example, the email client filter automatically moves messages containing "PMX:" in the subject line to the "Filtered Spam" mailbox. By using a separate mailbox, users have the option of scanning messages containing spam before deleting them.
PMX:
in the Search Text dialog box. Click
Next.