Mail Filtering Using Mozilla
1. Filtering incoming emails in Mozilla
Email coming into the Ox-mail system is examined by SpamAssassin (a program that looks for 'spam' or unsolicited emails). All mail through this system is given a ranking as to its likely spam content. A low score indicates an email is probably genuine, whereas a high score indicates the email is probably 'spam'. This score can be used to screen emails as you download them using the Mozilla Thunderbird email client.
It is a two step process to set up a new filter in Mozilla Thunderbird. The first step makes a new header filter, and the second part assigns conditions for its use.
1.1. Making a new filter
Click on [Tools > Messages Filters] from the menu.
A Message filter screen opens.
Click on the New button.
The filter rules screen appears.
Type in a name for your filter e.g. Ox-Mails. Now click on the drop down
box entitled [Subject] and select the [Customize] option.
A Customize Headers dialogue box appears.
In the top text box type in the following exactly:
X-Oxmail-Spam-Level
Click on Add to accept the name, followed by OK to
return to the main filter rules screen.
Select Move to folder check box. If you have a suitable 'spam' folder
already, click on the top drop-down box, navigate to your spam folder and select it. The
name will appear in the drop-down box.
If you want to create a new spam folder, select New folder... button.
Type in the name for the new folder in the popup box. Next select the Create as a subfolder
of: drop-down box and select where the new folder should live, then click on
OK.
You will return to the Filters Rules screen. Click
OK to return to the Message filters screen. Your new filters'
name will appear in the filters list. This completes part 1.
1.2. Assigning conditions to the filter
From the Message filters screen, select your filter from the list and
click on Edit. The Filter Rules screen opens. Now when
you click on the Subject drop down list, your new filter name will appear
at the bottom of the list. Click on it to select it.
In the third box type in the number of stars you wish the filter to use. We recommend 7 stars initially. This can be revised at a later date if necessary.
Click on OK set the condition and return to
the Message filters screen. If you want to run the filter against your
INBOX, click the Run button, otherwise the filter will run against all
new emails. Close the screen to complete the process.
We strongly advise you to initally monitor your 'Spam' folder to make sure you are diverting the correct emails to this folder. If you find that too many 'spam' emails are still reaching your INBOX, edit your rule and decrease the number of stars by 1. Similarly if useful emails are being directed to the spam box by this new rule, edit the number of stars by increasing the number by one. Monitor the effect this has on your INBOX and regularly check your spam folder. Remember to delete spam from this folder on a regular basis - it can quickly mount up and take up valuable space in your email acount.
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