Setup

Overview: Setting Up Server and Client

First, a short overview to give you an idea of the goal. In order for your email client (such as MS Outlook) to communicate with your POP3 server for downloading emails, it needs an address and a port number. SpamSquash will act as a midpoint server between your email client and your pop3 email server. So, you will need to configure the email client to talk to SpamSquash, and SpamSquash to talk to the POP3 server. There are three values of interest here: the pop3 server's address (URL), its port number, and the local server's port number (which you will select). The local server here is SpamSquash.

Setup for Generic Email Client

You need to write down three values and change two values. First take out a piece of paper and write the following three headings:

  1. "Email (POP3) Server:"
  2. "POP3 Port Number:",
  3. "Local Server Port Number:"

You fill each of these out as you go through the steps below. These will be required for setting up SpamSquash.

Open your email client and follow the steps below.

  1. Your POP3 server's url, this would be something like "mail.mymail.com", or it could be a dot quad IP address, e.g. "127.4.34.3". Find this and write it down next to the heading "Email (POP3) Server:".

  2. The server port number for the POP3 server. This is usually, though not necessarily, 110. Find this and write it down next to "POP3 Port Number:"

  3. Now, change the POP3 server name in your email client to the ip address 127.0.01.

  4. Next, change the POP3 server port number to some value between 1025 and 5000. It can be any value in that range. Write the number down that you entered next to the heading "Local Server Port Number" on the piece of paper. Save the email client's settings. Note, if there is a conflict with the server port number you chose and some other application's (not likely), you will need to change this number.

Now, open SpamSquash and select the menu topic "Server" and then the item "POP3 Settings." A "Server Settings" dialog box should appear.

The headings in the dialog box will match the three headings on the piece of paper you filled out. Just transfer the values to the dialog box. Once you have the dialog box filled out, press "OK" to save the settings. You'll need to restart the server for the server port number to take effect. Or, you can exit and re-enter SpamSquash.

SpamSquash is now configured for downloading and filtering emails. The emails should pass through SpamSquash and into your email client.

Filtering in Generic Email Client

To set up your generic email client for filtering for SpamSquash emails, do the following:

First, create a folder.

The folder is meant to hold spam flagged email.

Now, create a filter rule in your email client to move the spam marked emails into the created folder.

SpamSquash places the Spam Flag Word in the subject line of emails. So, you need to filter for that spam flag word in the subject line.

Setup for Outlook (2002 edition is the example here)

You need to write down three values and change two values. First take out a piece of paper and write the following three headings:

  1. "Email (POP3) Server:"
  2. "POP3 Port Number:",
  3. "Local Server Port Number:"

You fill each of these out as you go through the steps below. These will be required for setting up SpamSquash.

Open Outlook and follow the steps below.

  1. Go to menu heading "Tools"
  2. Select "E-mail Accounts..."
  3. The "E-mail Accounts" dialog will appear.
  4. Select, under "E-mail", "view or change existing e-mail accounts"
  5. Press the button labeled "Next"
  6. Select the account you want to re-configure.
  7. Press the "Change" button.
  8. Write down the "incoming mail server (POP3)" account name on that piece of paper you prepared, next to "Email (POP3) Server:".
  9. In place of the old name, place the IP address "127.0.0.1"
  10. Press the "More Settings..." button.
  11. An "Internet E-mail Settings" dialog box will pop up.
  12. In that dialog box, select the tab heading "Advanced"
  13. Again, in the "Incoming Mail (POP3)" box, write down the port number next to the heading "POP3 Port Number:" on the prepared sheet of paper. This is usually 110, but could be something else.
  14. Change the port number to a number for the SpamSquash server. This number should be somewhere in the range of 1025 to 5000. You can pick any number in that range. Write this number down on the sheet of paper next to the heading "Local Server Port Number" . Note, if there is a conflict with the server port number you chose and some other application's (not likely), you will need to change this number.
  15. Press "Ok" to save the changes.
  16. Press the button labeled "Next".
  17. Press the button labeled "Finish"
  18. That's it for Outlook.
  19. Next use the 3 numbers you wrote down to configure SpamSquash.

Now, open SpamSquash and select the menu topic "Server" and then the item "POP3 Settings." A "Server Settings" dialog box should appear.

The headings in the dialog box will match the three headings on the piece of paper you filled out. Just transfer the values to the dialog box. Once you have the dialog box filled out, press "OK" to save the settings. You'll need to restart the server for the server port number to take effect. Or, you can exit and re-enter SpamSquash.

SpamSquash is now configured for downloading and filtering emails. The emails should pass through SpamSquash and into Outlook.

Filtering in Outlook 2002

To set up Outlook for filtering for SpamSquash emails, do the following:

First, create a folder.

  1. Go to the menu heading "File"
  2. Mouse over "New", and select "Folder..."
  3. A "Create New Folder" dialog box appears.
  4. Select where you want the folder to go in the tree diagram.
  5. Type in the name of the folder you want to create. It could be anything, for instance "Spam"
  6. Make sure that "Mail and Post Items" is selected under "Folder Contains:".
  7. Click the "OK" button to create the new folder.

Now, create a rule to move the spam marked emails into the folder. For this example we'll assume that you created a folder named "Spam".

  1. Go to the menu heading "Tools".
  2. Then select "Rules Wizard...". You might have to expand the popup menu by clicking the ">>", which points downward, to find this entry.
  3. The "Rules Wizard" dialog box will appear.
  4. Click on the "New" button to create a new rule.
  5. Make sure the radio button "Start creating a rule for a template" is selected.
  6. In the textbox select "Move messages based on content".
  7. Click on the "Next" button.
  8. Under "Which condition(s) do you want to check?", select "With specific words in the subject".
  9. Under "Rule description", click on the underlined text "specific words".
  10. A "Search Text" dialog box will appear.
  11. Type in the Spam Flag Word.
  12. Click the "Add" button.
  13. Click the "OK" button to accept changes.
  14. Next, click on the underlined word "specified", where is says "specified folder".
  15. Select the newly created folder in the tree view.
  16. Click "OK" to accep the changes.
  17. Click the "Finish" button to accept the newly created rule.
  18. You can move the new rule up or down the list with the "Move Up" and "Move Down" buttons. The higher in the list, the nearer the top, the higher the precedence of the rule. Rules at top are evaluated first.
  19. Click "OK" to accept all changes.
  20. Outlook is now set up to move spam flaged emails into the "Spam" folder.

Setup for Outlook Express (ver 6 is the example here)

You need to write down three values and change two values. First take out a piece of paper and write the following three headings:

  1. "Email (POP3) Server:"
  2. "POP3 Port Number:",
  3. "Local Server Port Number:"

You fill each of these out as you go through the steps below. These will be required for setting up SpamSquash.

Open Outlook Express and follow the steps below.

  1. Go to menu heading "Tools" in Outlook Express ver 6.
  2. Select "Accounts..."
  3. The "Internet Accounts" dialog box should appear.
  4. Select the account you want to re-configure
  5. Press the "Properties" button
  6. The "Properties" dialog box for the selected account should appear
  7. Select the tab labeled "Servers"
  8. Write down the "Incoming Mail (POP3)" account name on that piece of paper you prepared, next to "Email (POP3) Server:".
  9. In place of the old name, place the IP address "127.0.0.1"
  10. Next, select the tab labeled "Advanced".
  11. Again, in the "Incoming Mail (POP3)" box, write down the port number next to the heading "POP3 Port Number:" on the prepared sheet of paper. This is usually 110, but could be something else.
  12. Change the port number to a number for the SpamSquash server. This number should be somewhere in the range of 1025 to 5000. You can pick any number in that range. Write this number down on the sheet of paper next to the heading "Local Server Port Number" . Note, if there is a conflict with the server port number you chose and some other application's (not likely), you will need to change this number.
  13. Click "Ok" to save the changes, then click "Close" to close the "Internet Accounts" box.
  14. That's it for Outlook Express.
  15. Next use the 3 numbers you wrote down to configure SpamSquash.

Now, open SpamSquash and select the menu topic "Server" and then the item "POP3 Settings." A "Server Settings" dialog box should appear.

The headings in the dialog box will match the three headings on the piece of paper you filled out. Just transfer the values to the dialog box. Once you have the dialog box filled out, press "OK" to save the settings. You'll need to restart the server for the server port number to take effect. Or, you can exit and re-enter SpamSquash.

SpamSquash is now configured for downloading and filtering emails. The emails should pass through SpamSquash and into Outlook Express.

Filtering in Outlook Express (ver 6 is the example here)

To set up Outlook Express for filtering for SpamSquash emails, do the following:

First, create a folder.

  1. Create a folder for moving your spam emails into.
  2. Go to the menu heading "File"
  3. Mouse over "New", and select "Folder..."
  4. A "Create Folder" dialog box appears.
  5. Type in the name of the folder you want to create. It could be anything, for instance "Spam"
  6. Click the "OK" button to create the new folder.

Now, create a rule to move the spam marked emails into the folder. For this example we'll assume that you created a folder named "Spam".

  1. Go to the menu heading "Tools".
  2. Then mouse over "Message Rules", and select "Mail..."
  3. The "Message Rules" dialog box will appear.
  4. Click on the "New" button to create a new rule.
  5. Under the box labeled "1. Select the Conditions for your rule:", check the box labeled "Where the Subject line contains the specific words"
  6. Under the box labeled "2. Select the Actions for your rule:", select the box labeled "Move it to the specifed folder".
  7. Now, under the box labeled "3. Rule Description", click on the underlined text "contains the specific words". A dialog box titled "Type Specific Words".
  8. Type in the Spam Flag Word.
  9. Click on the "Add" button.
  10. Click on the "OK" button
  11. Next, click on the underlined text "specified". The "Move" dialog box will appear.
  12. Select the folder you want to move the spam flaged email into. In this case the folder "Spam".
  13. Click "OK" in the "Move" dialog box to accept changes.
  14. Click "OK" in the "New Mail Rule" dialog box to accept new rule.
  15. You can move the newly created rule up (or down) with the buttons "Move Up" and "Move Down". The messages at top take precedence over the message at bottom.
  16. Click "OK" on the "Message Rules" dialog box to accept all changes.
  17. Outlook Express is not set up to move spam flaged emails into the "Spam" folder.

Setup for Pegasus Mail (ver 4 is the example here)

You need to write down three values and change two values. First take out a piece of paper and write the following three headings:

  1. "Email (POP3) Server:"
  2. "POP3 Port Number:",
  3. "Local Server Port Number:"

You fill each of these out as you go through the steps below. These will be required for setting up SpamSquash.

Open Pegasus and follow the steps below.

  1. Go to the menu heading "Tools"
  2. Select "Internet options..."
  3. The dialog box "Internet Mail Options" will appear.
  4. Select the tab labeled "Receiving (POP3)"
  5. Write down the "POP3 host" address on that piece of paper you prepared, next to "Email (POP3) Server:".
  6. In place of the old name, place the IP address "127.0.0.1"
  7. Under "Advanced POP3 settings", you should see the heading "Connect to server on TCP/IP port". Write down the port number next to the heading "POP3 Port Number:" on the prepared sheet of paper. This is usually 110, but could be something else.
  8. Change the port number to a number for the SpamSquash server. This number should be somewhere in the range of 1025 to 5000. You can pick any number in that range. Write this number down on the sheet of paper next to the heading "Local Server Port Number" . Note, if there is a conflict with the server port number you chose and some other application's (not likely), you will need to change this number.
  9. Click "OK" to save the changes.
  10. That's it for Pegasus.
  11. Next use the 3 numbers you wrote down to configure SpamSquash.

Now, open SpamSquash and select the menu topic "Server" and then the item "POP3 Settings." A "Server Settings" dialog box should appear.

The headings in the dialog box will match the three headings on the piece of paper you filled out. Just transfer the values to the dialog box. Once you have the dialog box filled out, press "OK" to save the settings. You'll need to restart the server for the server port number to take effect. Or, you can exit and re-enter SpamSquash.

SpamSquash is now configured for downloading and filtering emails. The emails should pass through SpamSquash and into Pegasus.

Setup SpamSquash POP3

To Fill out the values in the POP3 dialog, follow the instructions above for the email client you have.

Filtering in Pegasus Mail (ver 6 is the example here)

To set up Pegasus Mail for filtering for SpamSquash emails, do the following:

First, create a folder.

  1. In the "Folders" window, select the icon labeled "Add..."
  2. Type in the name of a "message folder" to create, and click "OK" to create that folder I'll create a folder named "Spam" for this example.

Now, create a rule to move the spam marked emails into the folder. For this example we'll assume that you created a folder named "Spam".

  1. Go to the menu heading "Tools".
  2. Mouse over "Mail filtering rules", then mouse over "Edit new mail filtering rules".
  3. Then select either "Rules applied when folder is opened..." or "Rules applied when folder is closed..", which ever you prefer.
  4. The "New mail filtering rules" window will appear.
  5. Click on the "Add Rule" button.
  6. The "Create a new filter rule" dialog box will appear.
  7. Click on the "Headers..." button.
  8. The "Edit a standard header rule" dialog box appears.
  9. Select the "Subject" check box.
  10. Type the Spam Flag Word into the text box labeled "Contains in this text".
  11. Under "Action" select "Move"
  12. Click the "Set.." button.
  13. Select the "Spam" mail folder you created.
  14. Click on the "Open" button a top the window.
  15. Click "OK" to accept this new rule.
  16. You can move this rule up or down the list, using the updown arrow button keys. Keys a top the list are excuted first.
  17. Click the "Save" button, to save the rule.
  18. Click "Close" to close the window.
  19. Pegasus is now set up to move spam flaged emails into the "Spam" folder.

Restart Server

In order for the "local server" port number to take effect you need to restart the server, either by restarting SpamSquash, or by going to the menu option "Server/Restart Server" and pressing the button "Restart Server".

Setting Up DNS for DNSBLs

To use the DNSBL, you need to supply the IP address for your domain name server. To do this, go to the POP3 Settings dialog, as above. It's under the menu heading "Server/POP3 Settings". Then, find where it says "Enter or Select Name Server IP" in the POP3 Settings dialog box. SpamSquash automatically supplies some probable local DNS addresses for you to use if it can find them in your registry. Use the drop down select box to select one. Then, press the "Test IP" button to see if it passes. If it passes, the DNS works. It can take up to five seconds for the test to run. Note, if the test fails, it probably means the DNS IP is not valid, but it could also mean that the server is down at that time. Press "OK" on the dialog box to accept the settings.

If the above method doesn't supply you with a valid IP address, you can do the following. From you Window's "Start" menu, select "Run". In the Run window enter the command "cmd". Press "Ok". A DOS style text command window should pop up. In that window type in the command "nslookup" and press "enter". It should supply an IP address, such as "192.168.0.1". That should be your name server's address. You can type that into the name server IP box.

To save the settings just press the "OK" button for the POP3 Settings window. You don't have to restart the server after changing the DNS entry.

Spam Flag Word

You can change the spam flag word in the text box "Spam Flag Word" in the same POP3 settings dialog box, found under menu heading "Server/POP3 Settings". This is the word that is placed in the "Subject" line of any emails that are identified by SpamSquash as spam. The word chosen must be between 2 and 20 characters long. Make sure the word is unique, so that the chances of it being in an email randomly are minimal. The default spam flag word is "*SPAMSQUASHED!*". For any change in the spam flag word to take effect, you must press the "OK" button and then either restart the server, see "Restart Server" above, or exit and re-enter SpamSquash. Note, you can only change the "Spam Flag Word" in the registered version of SpamSquash.

That's all there is to configuring SpamSquash. You can probably see all you've done is swap out addresses and ports so that the client can talk to SpamSquash and SpamSquash can talk to the POP3 email server.

You should now be able to receive emails in your client as usual. SpamSquash will store the first 5K bytes of each email in its database as the emails come into the "New Folder".

Once you've set everything up, you will want to train the SpamSquash filter so that it can filter spam for you.

Note: once setup, SpamSquash must be running for your email client to work.

to Contents