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Users in the Panix mail system can activate a number of highly effective
anti-spam options from the webmail interface. These options block spam
at the mail server level. If a legitimate message is blocked, then the
sender will receive a bounce message explaining why the mail was turned
away.
The upside of this is that you don't see the mail that was rejected. You don't have to sift through it trying to figure out whether you should bother reading it. It never counts against your quota, and our servers don't have to go through the delivery process for it. This saves a lot of resources (human and machine). The downside of this is that you don't see the mail that was rejected; that is, there isn't any way for you to pre-test these blocks to make sure they aren't rejecting mail you want to receive. If this arrangement is not satisfactory for you, you should not use blocking. You can still use SpamAssassin. In our mail system, you can either use the webmail-based version or the version that runs from procmail. Note that you must use some blocking if you are forwarding mail to an address off the Panix network. We insist on this in order to keep our servers from being implicated in the distribution of spam. If you forward mail offsite and have no advanced anti-spam options in place, we will automatically use Zen and Sender Address Verification. To avoid this, you must keep all of your mail on a Panix account or mailbox.
You can find webmail help help with webmail in the help system, and, once you're in webmail, from the "Help" link at the top of the page. |
Blocks currently available
Restriction
Description ZEN Blocks any IP address listed on the Spamhaus Zen list, which is a combination of several other lists, including the SBL, CBL, and PBL (described below). These blacklists are very effective in blocking spam. See http://www.spamhaus.org/zen/. CBL Tests whether the SMTP client is listed in the Composite Blocking List (CBL). The CBL uses spamtraps to find open proxies and spam-emitting zombies, with a conservative approach to listing. See http://cbl.abuseat.org/. SBL Tests whether the SMTP client is listed in the Spamhaus Block List (SBL). The SBL tracks verified spam sources. See http://www.spamhaus.org/sbl/. PBL Blocks any IP address listed on the Spamhaus PBL list, which identifies end user machines (such as DSL customers or cable customers) that are not legitimate mail servers. See http://www.spamhaus.org/pbl/. SpamCop Blocks IP addresses listed by the SpamCop blacklist of sites that send spam to spamtraps or that send mail that is reported as spam by SpamCop volunteers. See http://www.spamcop.net/. DSN (rfc-ignorant.org) Tests whether the envelope sender is listed in dsn.rfc-ignorant.org. This is a list of domains which refuse bounce messages. See http://www.rfc-ignorant.org/policy-dsn.php. Graylist Accepts mail only on the second and subsequent attempts from a given {sender,recipient,remote server}. Some spam is only tried once. WARNING: Incoming mail, especially from people who have not mailed to you before, will be delayed 15 minutes or more. See http://projects.puremagic.com/greylisting/. Bogus MX (rfc-ignorant.org) Tests whether the envelope sender is listed in bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org. This is a list of domains which list bogus MXs in the DNS. WARNING: This will bounce legitimate mail from a few places. See http://www.rfc-ignorant.org/policy-bogusmx.php. Reject Unknown Client (Not recommended.) This very aggressive restriction rejects mail from SMTP clients which do not have matching forward and reverse DNS. WARNING: this will bounce some legitimate mail. Postmaster (rfc-ignorant.org) (Not recommended.) Tests whether the envelope sender is listed in postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org. This is a list of domains which refuse messages sent to "postmaster". WARNING: this will bounce legitimate mail from at least one major ISP, as well as some other places.. See http://www.rfc-ignorant.org/policy-postmaster.php. Sender Address Verification (Not recommended.) This restriction tests whether the envelope return address is currently accepting mail.WARNING: This option bounces some legitimate mail, especially from automated sources like newsletters or web site notices.