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- Thunderbird Junk Mail Filtering
Junk Mail Controls - Thunderbird 3.x
(See below for training Thunderbird versions 1.x or 2.x to filter junk mail.)
Junk Mail Controls work when receiving email via IMAP or POP. If you receive email via POP you should set the Junk folder to be Local. It will be saved on your computer, as are your other mail folders.
If you receive email via IMAP you should set the Junk folder to be under your identity on the server. By doing so, the Junk folder will be saved on the server as your other mail folders are; and it will be available to you whenever you access your account via any IMAP email program, including Yale webmail.
Setting junk filters:
- Select Tools Pull Down Menu
- Select Account Settings from Menu
- Select Junk Setting from list in left column
- POP users:
- Select radio button for Other: Junk on Local Folders
- IMAP users:
- Select radio button for Junk” folder on: - your server space indicated by imap account name (first.last@yale.edu)
- Select OK button to save settings
POP |
IMAP |
Training Junk Mail Controls is important because the default settings are aggressive, and may mark wanted email as junk. At the same time, until you train it, Thunderbird does not know what you consider spam. Thunderbird becomes smarter as you train it; but training is an ongoing process, because spam is always changing. The Junk Mail Controls learn what you consider spam and moves it to the Junk folder (Ctrl-J on highlighted messages or message).
Remember that no program is better judge of what email is wanted or unwanted than you are. Always exercise good judgment and common sense when marking messages as Junk, or choosing how to respond to email. Many of the good habits we already have for postal mail, such as being careful of what we throw away without examining, and being a good steward of space in our own mailboxes, translate readily to electronic mail.
Thunderbird 1.x or 2.x Junk Mail Filtering
IMPORTANT: This documentation is for training Thunderbird 1.x or 2.x to filter junk mail. Documentation for a different email client can be found at Configure my email software.
Configure and train your junk mail filter in Thunderbird
Junk Mail Settings
To configure your junk mail settings, go to Tools, then Junk Mail Controls . In the new window make sure your configuration is set to the screenshot below.
To enable adaptive junk mail detection, go to Tools, then Junk Mail Controls. In the new window, click on the Adaptive Filter tab.
Train your Junk Mail Filter in Outlook
Once you have enabled your junk filtering in Thunderbird, you must check the junk folder frequently throughout the day to check for legitimate messages. If you find something that was marked as junk, and it should not be, right click on the message and select As Not Junk. This adds the sender to your local directory and prevents future messages from then going to junk.
Similarly, if you find something in your Inbox that should be marked as Junk, right click on the message and select As Junk . Future messages from this sender will go to the Junk folder.
