Understanding spam procedures

[me100finn]

I manage an account "XX" and siteground creates a domain email address by default to xx@domain.com. I have two other email addresses for the domain, so the XX is not needed and had filled up with 15,000 emails of spam.

I did have SpamAssassin enabled, so why weren't these deleted or moved to the spam folder? They were stuck in the Inbox when logging in Webmail. The other two folders (two valid email addresses) are just fine. I double checked all of the S.A. settings and the only option I had not added was the auto delete.

In order to delete these 15000 emails I had to login webmail, create a filter to delete all emails that were over size 0. Then I removed the filter.

So - here are my questions:

1. Why did the XX fill up with spam?
2. Why, after making filters and spam updates in cpanel, the emails werent deleted?
3. How do I prevent this from happening again?
4. What takes precendence from cpanel/webmail/software - SpamAssassin, Account Filters, Level Filters, *or* Webmail filters/black lists/whitelist *OR* software email

Thanks for any information to help clarify this!

[Hristo.P]

Hello,

Please allow me to quote your questions.

1. Why did the XX fill up with spam?

Your e-mail address is listed in some spam lists. Most probably you have entered it in a website that uses the entered emails to send spam to.

2. Why, after making filters and spam updates in cpanel, the emails werent deleted?

The SpamAssassin service checks only the new messages that are sent to you. Therefore, it has not deleted the old messages.

3. How do I prevent this from happening again?

Since you have configured your SpamAssassin, the new messages will be checked and your filters - applied. In order to prevent your addresses from receiving spam, please do not display them as text (use images) in your websites and do not enter them in other websites that you do cannot trust.

4. What takes precedence from cpanel/webmail/software - SpamAssassin, Account Filters, Level Filters, *or* Webmail filters/black lists/whitelist *OR* software email

The SpamAssassin is checking the e-mails first. Then the other filters are applied. Lastly, the local rules of your mail applications are applied.

[Colin Wiebe]

This post informs me a lot also. Spam is also been my problem ever since, as if there’s other way I can get rid of it. This thread is very helpful.

Colin Wiebe Tour Dates