SpamAssassin Advanced Spam Protection
SpamAssassin is an advanced, AI-powered spam filter that analyzes Email content and applies sophisticated detection methods to protect your inbox.
What Is SpamAssassin?
SpamAssassin uses machine learning and content analysis to detect spam emails. It assigns a spam score to each incoming Email and takes action based on your configured threshold and preferences.
Key features:
- Machine learning analysis
- Pattern recognition and content scanning
- Header and body analysis
- Learns from your feedback over time
- Customizable protection levels
- Whitelist and blacklist support
Accessing SpamAssassin Setup
- Log into Web Control Panel
- Go to Email Manager > SpamAssassin Setup
- Review the Basic Configuration section
- Configure Blocking Strategy and High Score Block settings
Basic Configuration
The Basic Configuration section shows the current spam filter policy for your account.
Settings displayed:
- Current account being configured
- SpamAssassin status (enabled/disabled)
- Blocking strategy selected
- Manual edit option for advanced users
Blocking Strategy
Choose where spam emails should go when detected:
| Option | Action | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Inbox | Don't block spam; deliver all emails | You prefer to manage manually |
| Main Spambox | Deliver spam to catch-all spam folder in IMAP | Most common choice |
| User Spambox | Send spam to individual user's spam folder | Need separate per-user folders |
| Delete | Remove spam automatically | Very confident in filter accuracy |
Main Spambox is the recommended option for most users. It catches spam while keeping it accessible for review.
High Score Block
Configure SpamAssassin's aggressive spam detection:
| Option | Behavior | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| No (selected by default) | Use standard global threshold | Normal spam volume |
| Yes | Block all emails scoring higher than custom threshold | Severe spam problem |
When "Yes" is selected:
- You can set custom high-score threshold
- Emails exceeding threshold deleted automatically
- Provides maximum protection
Be careful with "Yes" option! Emails above threshold are deleted permanently.
Global Threshold Settings
Configure the spam score threshold:
| Threshold | Protection | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low (5.0) | Maximum | High spam volume |
| Medium (6.0) | Balanced | Most users |
| High (8.0) | Light filtering | VIP contacts |
| Custom | Your choice | Specific needs |
Recommended: Start with Medium (6.0) and adjust based on results.
Subject Rewrite
SpamAssassin can optionally rewrite subject lines of detected spam:
Option: "Do you wish to rewrite the subject of a spam e-mail?"
- No (default): Leave subject unchanged
- Yes: Prepend a marker like "SPAM" to subject line
Benefits of rewriting:
- Easy to identify spam emails in inbox
- Can sort by modified subjects
- Helps with Email rules and filters
Common rewrite format:
Original: Important Account Update
Rewritten: ***SPAM*** Important Account Update
Spam Delivery Options
Option: "Don't use attachments"
If spam Email contains attachments:
- Enabled: Removes attachments from spam emails
- Disabled: Keeps attachments
When to enable:
- Reduce storage space
- Prevent malware delivery
- Remove potentially dangerous files
Option: "Use attachments"
Differences in handling:
- Original message preserved as attachment
- Body modified but archive saved
- Better for compliance/recovery
Option: "Use text-attachments"
- Original message converted to text-only attachment
- Useful for archival purposes
- Reduces complex formatting
Whitelisted Emails
Senders in the whitelist bypass SpamAssassin filtering.
"No whitelisted e-mails" means:
- All senders evaluated by SpamAssassin
- All emails subject to spam filtering
- No trusted senders list configured
To add whitelist:
- Add Email addresses to bypass spam filtering
- These senders always reach your inbox
- Useful for important business partners
Adding entries:
- Press Enter or input field prompt to add addresses
- Each address added to safe senders list
Blacklisted Emails
Senders in the blacklist are treated as spam.
"No blacklisted e-mails" means:
- No senders permanently blocked
- All senders evaluated by normal rules
- Blocking based on content only
To add blacklist:
- Add persistent spammer Email addresses
- These emails always treated as spam
- Automatic blocking for known bad senders
Adding entries:
- Add one Email per line
- Emails from these senders blocked
Bayes Data
Bayesian learning is SpamAssassin's machine learning system.
What it does:
- Learns from spam/legitimate Email patterns
- Adapts filter over time to your email
- Improves accuracy based on feedback
- Becomes more effective as it learns
Bayes Data Management:
- Accumulates learning data over time
- Can be reset with "DELETE DATA" button
- Resetting clears all learned patterns
- Takes about 1-2 weeks to re-learn after reset
Use "DELETE DATA" only if:
- Filter is very inaccurate
- You want fresh learning start
- Bayesian data is corrupted
When to reset:
- After major spam surge
- When filter becomes ineffective
- If migrating to new account
- For troubleshooting purposes
Tips & Best Practices
- Start conservative: Use Medium protection level (6.0 threshold) initially
- Review spam folder: Check weekly for legitimate emails caught
- Whitelist important senders: Add trusted Email addresses
- Report spam: Help SpamAssassin learn from mistakes
- Monitor changes: Give filter 1-2 weeks to adapt
- Adjust threshold: Raise if missing legitimate emails, lower if spam getting through
- Check settings: Verify blocking strategy and high score block are correct
Troubleshooting
Important Email going to spam?
- Check if sender is whitelisted
- Verify blocking strategy set correctly
- Consider raising threshold (6.0 → 8.0)
- Add to Whitelist - Safe senders
Too much spam getting through?
- Lower threshold (8.0 → 6.0 → 5.0)
- Enable "High Score Block" for maximum protection
- Check that SpamAssassin is enabled
- Contact support if persists
Filter not working?
- Verify SpamAssassin is enabled
- Check blocking strategy is not "Inbox"
- Wait 5 minutes for changes to apply
- Send test Email to verify
Related Features
Learn more about Email security and management:
- Spam Filters - Basic custom filtering
- Managing Email Accounts - Account settings
- Setup Forwarders - Email forwarding
- Setup Autoresponder - Auto-reply messages
For additional help with SpamAssassin configuration, contact our support team. Available 24/7!