Microsoft Forefront Anti-Spam Filter
One of the methods UTSA employs to protect our users from unwanted e-mail is the Microsoft Forefront Online Security System. You can use the system to block mail from unwanted users or domains, or allow e-mail to reach you from addresses you know to be good.
Microsoft Forefront is an anti-spam filtering application. Forefront is available for all personal computers running Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. You can access Forefront from multiple browsers.
It works on two levels:
- Real-time Block List (RBL) contains the names of servers that have been identified as known spam senders. E-mail originating from these servers will be blocked by Forefront.
- In the second filtering step, Forefront will block messages that meet the rules and criteria for determining spam.
The Forefront Process
Every three days, Forefront will send you an e-mail notification (from UTSASpamPostmaster@utsa.edu) that contains a list of suspected spam messages that were sent to your Forefront Quarantine (spam) folder. You will only receive a message from Forefront if you have suspected spam.
Also, you can increase or decrease the length of time between the reception of the e-mail notifications through your Forefront account settings under Options.
Setting Up a Forefront Account
(Please note that you do not need to set up a Forefront account. Any messages found in your Quarantine area will be automatically deleted after 15 days.)
Logging in to Forefront for the First Time
https://quarantine.messaging.microsoft.com
Figure 1. Forefront Login Page
Enter your UTSA e-mail address (john.doe@utsa.edu) in the User Name: box. Then click Need your password? (Figure 1). You will receive an e-mail message from Forefront that will contain instructions for how to create your password. For security purposes, please do not use your current UTSA network password as your Forefront password – create a new password. Don’t worry – if you forget your password, you can retrieve it from Forefront by entering your User Name and clicking Need your password?
Logging in to Forefront
https://quarantine.messaging.microsoft.com
Enter your UTSA e-mail address (john.doe@utsa.edu) in the User Name: box and enter your Password.
Changing your Forefront Account Settings
Download the Forefront User Guide (PDF) for detailed information. If you have any questions, please contact OITConnect, 458-5555.
Accessing Your Old Commtouch Account
If you need to access your Commtouch account for any reason, please contact OITConnect, 458-5555.
Report Spam or Legitimate E-mails
If an obvious spam message makes it to your inbox, you can forward the message to abuse@messaging.microsoft.com. Please be sure to include the full headers of the e-mail message with your submission. Contact OITConnect, 458-5555, if you do not know how to find the header information.
If a message is incorrectly identified as spam, forward the message to false_positive@messaging.microsoft.com. Please be sure to include the full headers of the message with your submission.