Implementing Spam Screening on Boise State University’s Internet Email System

Problem:  Unsolicited E-Mail

Platform:  Boise State University GroupWise Internet gateway

Damage:  Loss of user productivity and reduction of availability of resources (bandwidth, storage, processor, administration)

 SPAM is the Internet’s version of “Junk Mail”.  It is an attempt to deliver a message, over the internet, to someone who would not otherwise choose to receive it.  It is common that HALF of all incoming internet mail is SPAM.

Boise State University has seen a 20% – 30%  increase in SPAM activity over the last year (2002).  To counteract the effects of this OIT will implement a product that integrates with our current Anti-virus solution (Guinevere).  This product, SpamAssassin, works by applying approximately 200 rules, mostly text checks, to each message that is received from the Internet.  SapmAssassin also does RBL (Real-time Blackhole List) lookups, DNS checks, and other sophisticated algorithms.  It totals up the score from each of these rules, and if the sum exceeds a pre-defined threshold, the message is marked as spam.  The message is removed from the systems delivery queues, so the end user never receives the message.

Beginning March 13th, Boise State will turn on SPAM blocking on all GroupWise e-mail to the University. In the unlikely event that mail that is legitimate to you is being blocked, contact spam@boisestate.edu . 

There is a form on the Network Home page [click here] to add e-mail sites to exception lists or blocked lists.  Exception lists contain exception sites (for example; all e-mail from Universities are exempted from blocking).  Block lists contain sites that are permanently blocked (for example; known SPAM companies).