NIS 2011 - AntiSpam not catching Spam

Hi.

 

When I turned this function on, it created a Norton AntiSpam Folder in my Outlook Express mail client since I am using XP at this time. Ever since, I have to click on each message Norton AntiSpam -> This is Spam to put the message into that Norton folder.

 

Is this normal operation, or should NIS detect Spam and place it there and let me undo it if it is not Spam?

I'm a bit confused here. Thank you.

 

P.S. What other mail clients does NIS '11 support for AntiSpam?

Hi Atomic_Blast,

The expected behaviour of AntiSpam feature is to catch all the spam emails and place it in the Norton Antispam Folder.

If required you can undo saying "This is not Spam".

Is the spam emails not catched by Norton Antispam? Are they tagged as "[Norton AntiSpam]" ?

NIS 11 supports the following Email clients:

1. Outlook 2002/2003/2007/2010
2. Outlook Express 6.0 or later
3. Windows Mail (Windows Vista) - Does not add any options to the Windows Mail toolbar. But identifies the spam email and moves to the Junk Folder.


Please let us know your problem.


Thanks,

Ashwini.

Hi Ashwini...

 

I am using XP (SP3) with Outlook Express 6 on this system.

 

I enabled the Norton AntiSpam within the settings and it created a AntiSpam folder in OE. When I received mail that I considered to be spam, it just ended up in my Inbox and I had to click and select the Envelope in the OE toolbar or click right on the email to inform Norton that it is Spam. I  then looked in the AntiSpam settings are noticed that these email addresses were indeed blocked. This appears to be the opposite of what you are saying. The Spam should come into the Norton AntiSpam folder, but doesn't - I have to tell Norton that it is Spam and only then will it be moved there. There is no [Norton AntiSpam]  tagging on the mail header and when I empty the AntiSpam folder, it goes immediately into my Trash.

 

Kind of weird, no?

Hi.

 

When I turned this function on, it created a Norton AntiSpam Folder in my Outlook Express mail client since I am using XP at this time. Ever since, I have to click on each message Norton AntiSpam -> This is Spam to put the message into that Norton folder.

 

Is this normal operation, or should NIS detect Spam and place it there and let me undo it if it is not Spam?

I'm a bit confused here. Thank you.

 

P.S. What other mail clients does NIS '11 support for AntiSpam?

Hi

 

Do you get atleast a single Email with Norton Antispam tag?

 

If not can you check the ports configured for your email client(Outlook Express 6), and make sure that it is set for Standard POP3/SMTP (the incoming POP3 uses 110 and outgoing SMTP uses 25)?

 

Thanks

Kavitha

Hi Atomic_Blast,

 

I assume you have been configured to use the standard ports 25/110 based on your description but it does bear double checking just to make sure.

 

You might want to also temporarily add your own email address to the blocked list and then send yourself an email and see if the Antispam engine catches it. I do this every once in a while when something does not get caught that I think should get caught.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

Hi Kavitha & AllenM:

 

Thanks for your replies and the heads-up!

 

I use TCP Port 995 for Incoming (POP 3) and UDP port 465 (SMTP) for Outgoing, since it provides encryption.

This is per my email hosting company. I do not see any way to manipulate these port controls for AntiSpam.

 

Should I assume that NIS 2011 does not support these to check for Spam and Malware? What about NIS 2012?

 

Atomic Blast

 

 

 

 

Hello Atomic_Blast

 

These Ports are pointing to the SSL connections [ Port 995 : POP 3 over TLS/SSL (POP3S) and Port 465:  SMTP over SSL].

Unfortunately we don't support Antispam filtering on SSL connections.

 

NIS 2011 always checks for Spam and Malware when you are on those standard ports (110\25).

 

Since you use one of our supported Email Client, Client Integration part alone would have worked for you.

 

Thanks

Kavitha

Hi Kavitha:

 

In my opinion, there is no sense in allowing Outlook Express (or any other) supported mail program to perform Client Integration, if NIS '11/'12 is going to give you a false sense of security. (i.e. by establishing an AntiSpam Folder and allowing entries into the Blocked Senders list.)

 

NIS should validate itself to see what ports are being used for each supported mail client before allowing the AntiSpam Client to properly integrate itself. What would happen if only one set of the supported ports were used? I think some type of pop-up warning should be in order. BTW, these SSL ports are also being more widely used.

 

Now I don't have any Spam or Virus/Malware checking available to me inbound and outbound. I'm sad. :(

 

Sincerely,

Atomic Blast

 

HI Atomic_Blast,

 

NIS cannot really scan SSL ports because they are secure. To do so would open up all kinds of complexities as Norton would have to somehow get a valid certificate to be allowed to "look inside" and be able to scan the email.

 

Though I agree conceptually that this would be a good idea, I'm sure you can understand that it is not as simple as just "scanning the port".

 

As far as virus's or malware goes, if you try to load something from that email such as opening an attachment or clicking on a URL then other components of Norton such as Auto-Protect will kick in to scan it. Essentially this means that when you actually load something off your hard drive or click on a URL you are protected by the other components of Norton.

 

Please take a look at the following idea in Product Suggestions and lend your voice of support. As I said I agree "conceptually" with the idea of having SSL ports scanned but it is a very difficult endeavor and one fraught with security implications.

 

http://community.norton.com/t5/Product-Suggestions/E-mail-scanning-for-SSL-ports/m-p/216118/highlight/true#M244

 

Best wishes.

Allen

 

Hi AllenM:

 

I am not doubting that it would be a intricate piece of work, since the SSL ports are encrypted. However, NIS is such a top-notch security product that it should be done instead of the "easier way out." Symantec (Norton) is a huge company with the technical know how to pull this off. For me, I am really more concerned about containing the Spam which is rampant.

 

Do you know of any add-in for Outlook Express or Outlook that can control SSL level Spam?

 

If so, please let me know and thanks.

 

Atomic Blast :)

 

P.S. I updated that link with my thoughts, if it helps at all.

Hi Atomic_Blast,

 

In just a quick look I found the following but understand I know absolutely nothing about this so please do not consider this an endorsement or suggestion of any kind.

 

http://www.mailshell.com/spamcatcher/help_universal_4a.html

 

This is actually the first one I've heard of which claims support for SSL.

 

If you do end up getting some other program to handle antispam for your SSL ports, please be careful about what you get. If the program deals only with Antispam and nothing else it is probably OK to use with NIS. But most programs which have Anstipsam also come bundled with other things such as real-time AV, web protection, etc, etc. These other components would conflict with NIS.

 

Also if you do end up going down this road, you would need to be sure and disable Antispam and Client Integration in NIS to prevent possible conflicts.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

Hi AllenM:

 

Many thanks! I will look into it.

 

Atomic Blast :)

 

Update:

 

Mailshell Anti-Spam Universal does not support secure connection (SSL). Oh, well! :smileyvery-happy:

Hi Atomic_Blast,

 

The statement I read on that page was:

 


What if POP server uses SSL?

Mailshell Anti-Spam Universal does not support secure connection
(SSL). Be sure the setting for "Incoming mail (POP3): This server requires a
secure connection (SSL)" under the Advanced tab is unchecked. If you have
Outlook, our Mailshell Anti-Spam Desktop Outlook Edition does support SSL.


So you are correct that the Universal one does not, but it does say the Dekstop version does with Outlook. But of course I don't know if this includes Outlook Express which is what you have.

 

In either case, since I can't recommend this solution... But basically just repsonding with what my interpretation is. :smileywink:

 

Best wishes.

Allen