Start Using the Webmail Whitelist and Blocklist

The Webmail system now offers a new and exciting feature called Whitelisting.  This allows end users to Whitelist an email address that they want to accept messages from.  There is also a Blocklist that will allow end users to block an email address they want to reject messages from.  Finally, if the sender's address is not in the end user's Whitelist or Blocklist, the message originator will get a challenge-response message from the email server.  This message will request that the sender click on a link in order for the message to be submitted to your Inbox.

Messages waiting for approval are automatically filed into a folder named {Detained}.  Messages will remain in this folder for 14 days.  Therefore, if a message originator never clicks on the link they received from the mail system, the message will remain in your Detained folder for 14 days and then will be removed.  Manually deleting detained messages prior to their 14-day expiration will free up your allotted mailbox space, if space is a concern.

If you would like to take advantage of the Whitelisting feature, there are some initial steps that you need to take. 

1) All @smumn.edu email addresses are automatically considered "accepted" senders, as well as the members of your personal address book. You should browse your mail folder for any other addresses you'd like to allow.  Don't forget to add listservs that you are subscribed to. 

2) When you are ready to start using the Whitelist feature, you'll need to activate it under Options, Whitelist.  

4) After you initially activate the Whilelist feature, you should regularly check the Detained folder and choose
to Allow messages from the appropriate senders.

List Maintenance: Under most circumstances, your Whitelist will auto-maintain itself with the challenge-response
mechanism.  However, valid addresses, such as shopping sites, mailing lists, and newsgroups, may not click the
link to have their emails sent to your inbox. Therefore, you will need to be manually add those addresses. 

The only time you should have to Block a sender is if a message ends up in your INBOX without your allowing it.

PLEASE DO NOT ACTIVATE THE WHITELIST FEATURE IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOUR EMAIL DELIVERY. 

Activating the Whitelist feature should enable you to remove previously created anti-spam rules. 

Please note that we still have the suspected spam list turned on.  This means that members you have selected to
Whitelist may still end up in the suspected spam folder if their email server is registered with a spam-blocking list. 

If you have questions or concerns, please call the SMU Helpdesk, (507)457-7800 or helpdesk@smumn.edu.