MCN Spam Control, Powered by Proofpoint
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I log into the system to check my quarantine and adjust my settings?
There are three ways to do this. You can go directly to http://spamcontrol.mcn.org, click on the Proofpoint button on the MCN home page, or use the login screen on the left side of the MCN home page. There is a guide to this system at http://www.mcn.org/extras/spamcontrol
I am receiving a lot of e-mail spam that comes to my mailbox as if Proofpoint didn't screen it. It appears to be sent from my addresses. I especially get a lot of Rolex Watch and Viagra ads. What can be done about this?
This is caused by having either your own e-mail address in the safelist or having the entire mcn.org domain in in your safelist. We see a very common pattern with Rolex watch and Viagra ads where spammers send e-mail that appears to come "from" your own address "to" your own address. They do this because they know that many people put themselves on their safelists. When you do this it means that you have asked us not to screen anything that comes from your own address address for spam content. In effect, you are receiving these ads because the system has been told not to screen the message. We should clarify what a safe sender list does and does not do. First, you don't have to have an address in the safe sender list in order to receive mail from that address. What the safe sender list does is remove all screening for spam from an address. If you take your own address out, the worst that can happen is that a message to that you send to yourself might be quarantined.You can make changes to your safe sender list by going to http//spamcontrol.mcn.org and then clicking on lists-->Safe Senders. Put a check by any safe sender you want to remove and then click the Delete button. It's a good idea to only keep those safe senders that you really need in your safe sender list.
What are the different spam policies in the Proofpoint system and how can I change my policy?
MCN offers several spam policies. They are outlined below. To change your policy, log into the Proofpoint system and then click Profile-->Settings. If you choose to change your spam policy, please make sure you click the Save button before leaving the page. Remember that the more aggressive you make your spam policy the more likelihood that you will block legitimate e-mail.
Current Spam Policies
Lenient--offers a minimal level of spam protection
Standard--offers a basic level of spam protection
Standard with Bulk Block--Offers the Standard policy but also blocks obvious bulk mail
Aggressive--Offers a higher level of spam protection and is more aggressive on bulk e-mail
Super Aggressive--Offers our highest level of spam protection
You can change your spam policy by going to http://spamcontrol.mcn.org and clicking on Profiles and then Settings.
I receive bounce back message from e-mails that I didn't send. Why is that and what can be done about it.? This is what is known as backscatter e-mail.. Backscatter e-mail are bounce messages from e-mail servers that you receive because a spammer has spoofed your address as the from address in an e-mail and sent that e-mail to an invalid e-mail address. The mail server then bounces the message back to you even though you never sent it. Backscatter messages often have a subject that starts with "Returned Mail", "Undeliverable Mail" or other phrases indicating that the attempt to deliver mail failed. We have some tools to quarantine these e-mails.
Is there a way I can get notification from the system that I have messages held in the quarantine?
Yes, the system has an announcement/digest system which sends you a nicely formatted digest of your e-mails that have been quarantined in the last 24 hours each day. You can request to have that service turned on now. We will be implementing this system wide in the next few weeks.
Do I need to change anything on my e-mail program
What are some of the new features in MCN Spam Control? There are several new features. First, a very simple interface that's easy to use and everything is accessible. Another great feature is the ability to search the entire quarantine by subject or sender. There's now virtually unlimited storage for safe and blocked senders so you can have as many as you want. You'll also see a spam score on each quarantined message. You can view messages while in the quarantine without having to go to a new screen. A slight change in the new system is that if you want to add an entire domain to your safe/blocked senders you simply put the domain name in. In the old system you put the @ symbol in front of the domain
Are there features that we will no longer have? Yes, there are a few things will change in the new program. Customers will no longer be able to add and remove aliases, but MCN staff are happy to add them for you. You will not automatically receive a notification message every time you get spam. While we bring the new program on line we will be sending you reminders to check your quarantine three times a week. Also, blocked senders behave slightly differently in Proofpoint. If you put an e-mail in the blocked sender list, e-mail from that address will bediscarded and will not show up in your quarantine.
Why is MCN Changing Providers for Spam and Virus Filtering?
Who is Proofpoint?
Why can't I delete viruses?
Virus messages are displayed for information only. Because they contain dangerous attachments, you cannot perform actions on them. They are deleted after seven days.
Proofpoint Overview Page and Instruction Links
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
