How to Prevent Spam with Email Filters

Introduction

Spam emails can clutter your inbox, pose security risks, and reduce productivity. By setting up email filters, you can automatically detect and block unwanted messages before they reach your inbox. This guide will walk you through configuring spam filters in both cPanel and Plesk to help prevent spam effectively.

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Setting Up Spam Filters in cPanel

Step 1: Access the Spam Filters Tool

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Navigate to the Email section and click on Spam Filters.

Step 2: Enable Spam Filtering

1. Locate the SpamAssassin section.

2. Click the toggle to enable Spam Filters.

3. Once enabled, cPanel will begin filtering spam automatically.

Step 3: Adjust Spam Threshold Settings

1. Click on Spam Threshold Score.

2. Lower scores make the filter stricter (default is 5; setting it to 3 is more aggressive).

3. Save changes to apply the new threshold.

Step 4: Auto-Delete Spam (Optional)

1. Toggle Auto-Delete Spam to enable automatic deletion of spam emails.

2. Be cautious with this setting to avoid false positives.

Step 5: Create Custom Email Filters

1. Navigate to Email Filters in cPanel.

2. Click Create a New Filter and set up rules based on sender, subject, or keywords.

3. Define the action (e.g., move to Junk folder or delete).

4. Click Save to activate the filter.

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Setting Up Spam Filters in Plesk

Step 1: Access Spam Filter Settings

1. Log in to Plesk.

2. Go to Mail and select your email account.

3. Click Spam Filter.

Step 2: Enable Spam Filtering

1. Check the box to enable spam filtering for the selected email account.

2. Click Apply to save changes.

Step 3: Adjust Sensitivity Levels

1. Set the spam sensitivity level (lower values mean stricter filtering).

2. Recommended values: 5 for balanced filtering, 3 for stricter filtering.

Step 4: Configure Actions for Spam Messages

1. Choose to either move spam to the Spam folder or delete it automatically.

2. Click Apply to finalize your changes.

Step 5: Whitelist and Blacklist Senders

1. Add trusted senders to the Whitelist to ensure their emails always arrive.

2. Add known spammers to the Blacklist to block their messages.

3. Click Apply to save these lists.

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Additional Tips to Prevent Spam

• Use strong passwords to prevent email account hacks.

• Never click on suspicious links in spam emails.

• Use CAPTCHAs on contact forms to reduce spam submissions.

• Report spam emails to improve filtering accuracy.

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Conclusion

Setting up spam filters in cPanel or Plesk is an effective way to reduce unwanted emails and keep your inbox clean. By enabling spam detection, adjusting sensitivity settings, and configuring custom filters, you can significantly decrease the number of spam messages you receive. If you continue to experience spam issues, consider contacting your hosting provider for additional assistance.