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Configuring Netscape or Mozilla e-mail clients to filter spam

This page details how to configure the Netscape 7 e-mail client to filter e-mail marked as possible spam by MelbPC's mail server. Mozilla is very similar, however newer versions come with inbuilt Bayesian based filtering capability which provides excellent results after training.

If you are uncertain on how to change SpamAssassin settings please read the Spam Assassin FAQ.

Method 1 utilises a tag added to the subject line as the basis for filtering - use this if you wish to have a visible indication of identified spam. You can change the tag through your individual Spam Assassin preferences.

Method 2 utilises the X-Spam-Flag header as the basis for filtering - use this if you do not wish your e-mail visibly marked. Change your individual Spam Assassin preferences to avoid tagging the subject line if desired.

Method 1 (subject line tagged)
Step 1

Start the Netscape e-mail client and then Tools > Message Filters.

Click New.

Step 2

Enter a filter name - ??Spam?? in this example.

Select Match any of the following.

Select Subjectand contains.

Enter ??Spam?? as the item being checked for.

Step 3

Select Move to folder and click New Folder.

Step 4

Enter the new folder name - Spam in this example.

Click under Create as a subfolder of, mouse over the account name and click on choose this for the parent. Click OK.

If you have existing filters move the new ??Spam?? filter up or down the list as desired. Positioning at the top may cause false positives (real mail mislabelled as spam aka ham) to end up in the Spam folder. Positioning at the bottom may cause more true positives (spam labelled as spam) to end up with real mail. Note that the filters process in order from top to bottom.

Step 5

If you routinely receive e-mail such as newsletters that are labelled with ??Spam?? you can whitelist the sender through your individual Spam Assassin preferences (preferable) or create a filter to process it before the ??Spam?? filter.

Step 6

Once created move the Newsletter filter to the top of the filter list so it processes e-mail first.

Method 2 (subject line not tagged)
Step 1

Start the Netscape e-mail client and then Tools > Message Filters.

Click New.

Step 2

Enter a filter name, Spam in this example. Click on the header selection - Subject and then Customize.

Step 3

Enter X-Spam-Flag then click Add and OK.

Step 4

Click on Subject again and pick X-Spam-Flag.

Step 5

Click on Contains and pick is.

Enter Yes for the word to filter on.

Step 6

Select Move to folder and click New Folder.

Step 7

Enter the new folder name - Spam in this example.

Click under Create as a subfolder of, mouse over the account name and click on choose this for the parent. Click OK.

If you have existing filters move the new Spam filter up or down the list as desired. Positioning at the top may cause false positives (real mail mislabelled as spam aka ham) to end up in the Spam folder. Positioning at the bottom may cause more true positives (spam labelled as spam) to end up with real mail. Note that the filters process in order from top to bottom.

Step 8

If you routinely receive e-mail such as newsletters that are misidentified as spam, whitelist the sender through your individual Spam Assassin preferences.