Spam Filtering Service @ St. Mary's
 
Spam filtering is a server-based email filtering application that identifies and tags messages as potential spam so that an appropriate course of action can be taken. Spam filtering inspects the content of the email message and determines the probability of it being spam based on a numeric scoring system. Depending on the email's spam score, messages can then be redirected to a spam folder (of your choice) or deleted. The spam filtering service also includes the block/accept lists feature for added protection from and prevention of spam.
 
Block/Accept List
 
The block/accept list is a feature that we have subscribed from the spam filtering software developer. Messages from senders on your block/accept list will be either deleted or delivered without filtering for spam. For example, the addresses and domains on your accept list are sure to be delivered to your inbox, whereas addresses and domains on your block list will be deleted.
 
Email Attachments & Filtering
 

St. Mary's takes proactive steps against the spreading of viruses by blocking certain attachment types from the mail servers. Your email will not be deliverable if it contains an attachment with a file extension from the list below. If you would like to send a legitimate attachment that has one of these file extensions, please rename the file so it has a different extension. Once the recipient has downloaded the attachment they must change the file name back to the original extension in order to open it.

This is a preventative measure since most email viruses are created with the intention of replicating and spreading at an incredible rate; once the infected attachment is opened the virus is triggered and sends itself to the contacts found in the address book.
Blocked File Extensions
.ade Microsoft Access project extension
.adp Microsoft Access project
.asx Windows Media Audio / Video
.bas Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat Batch file
.chm Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd Microsoft Windows NT Command script
.com Microsoft MS-DOS program
.cpl Control Panel extension
.crt Security certificate
.exe Executable Program
.hlp Help file
.hta HTML program
.inf Setup Information
.ins Internet Naming Service
.isp Internet Communication settings
.js JScript file
.jse Jscript Encoded Script file
.lnk Shortcut
.mda Microsoft Access add-in program
.mdb Microsoft Access program
.mde Microsoft Access MDE database
.mdt Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdw Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdz Microsoft Access wizard program
.msc Microsoft Common Console document
.msi Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp Microsoft Windows Installer patch
.mst Microsoft Windows Installer transform; Microsoft Visual Test source file
.ops Office XP settings
.pcd Photo CD image; Microsoft Visual compiled script
.pif Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.prf Microsoft Outlook profile settings
.reg Registration entries
.scf Windows Explorer command
.scr Screen saver
.sct Windows Script Component
.shb Shell Scrap object
.shs Shell Scrap object
.vb VBScript file
.vbe VBScript Encoded script file
.vbs VBScript file
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script file
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings file
 
Best Practices
 
Please follow these guidelines to help manage your quota and to help us manage the email service:
  1. Empty your inbox regularly to avoid exceeding your quota, you can do this by transferring your messages from your inbox to another folder or to your computer's hard drive.
  2. Unsubscribe from any mailing lists that no longer interest you since lists generate a huge amount of mail traffic.
  3. Please don't attach large files to email messages, attachments should be less than 8 megabyte. Explore other alternatives such as compressing the files to zip format and file splitters to send large attachments.
  4. Use BCC (blind copy) instead of CC to copy a message to a large number of people. This cuts down on the size of the mail header; it also makes messages easier for your correspondents to read.
  5. Consider setting up a list to send emails on a regular basis to a group of people.
  6. Update your address book regularly and remove addresses you don't need.
  7. No chain letters! It's not only a good idea, it's our policy.
  8. Learn to recognize virus hoaxes that circulate via email and don't pass them on.
  9. Make sure your computer is protected from email viruses by installing anti-virus software.
 
THANK YOU for helping to effectively manage our rapidly expanding use of electronic mail.