How MobileMe filters spam messages

MobileMe automatic spam filtering

To minimize the impact of spam on MobileMe members, MobileMe employs several methods of detecting spam before it ever reaches your inbox. Spam prevention requires filtering mechanisms that include dynamic lists, trend analysis and content filtering.

No single strategy is completely effective when it comes to managing Unsolicited Bulk Email (UBE), also known as "spam". People who are intent on sending spam are ingenious at coming up with ways around filtration schemes. Some spam may not be filtered.

Some email may be misinterpreted as spam

Due to the large number of variables that cause software to decide that something is spam, some legitimate mail from friendly sources may occasionally be blocked from ever reaching your mailbox. This scenario is commonly called a false-positive. Some false-positives will immediately be removed from the message systems, other false-positives may be delayed from delivery for up to 72 hours. If you feel that a friendly message was inadvertently deleted, you may want to ask your friend for a follow up email before you contact support, if you notice that multiple messages are being delayed, bounced, or not delivered, you should contact MobileMe Support directly.

If you don't recognize it, don't open it

Sometimes, the seemingly-innocent act of opening questionable email can trigger an embedded script. The script sends a reply to the spammer, alerting them that the message was received and opened at an active email account.

When checking email at MobileMe Mail on the web, you can easily delete messages from unknown sources without opening them by clicking the X to the far right of the message in the list. If using Mac OS X Mail, double-click the horizontal separator bar. This will remove the message text area and allow you to click and remove the message from the message list window. When finished deleting the suspect email, double-click the separator bar to return it to its default state.

Forward spam to spam@me.com

Filtering spam at the server is only part of the equation. You may find it helpful to use your mail application filtering to complement the server filtering. To learn more about how to use filtering and other options for dealing with spam, see "Why was I 'spammed' at my MobileMe Mail address?".