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PureMessage Frequently Asked Questions

 1. What is PureMessage?
 2. How does PureMessage identify spam?
 3. How does the PureMessage Quarantine work?
 4. What is the Quarantine Digest?
 5. Can I have Web access to my Quarantined messages?
 6. How do I opt in (or out) of the Quarantine Digest?
 7. Someone sent me a message with a password protected attachment and I can't find it
 8. Do I have to do anything with the Quarantine Digest e-mail message I receive?
 9. How do I release e-mails from Quarantine and get them sent to my mailbox?
10. How do I view a blocked message?
11. I released a message and it didn't show up in my GroupWise account.

1. What is PureMessage?

PureMessage is a mail-filtering program that WMU is now using. All e-mail sent to firstname.lastname@wmich.edu addresses passes through the PureMessage server.The PureMessage software first scans each message to make sure there aren't any viruses and then follows a set of rules to look for certain characteristics to determine what to do with the e-mail message.

2. How does PureMessage identify spam?

PureMessage contains over a thousand different spam tests that analyze individual characteristics of each e-mail message. Each test has a numerical weight assigned to it.When e-mail is analyzed by PureMessage, the weights from all of the spam tests that matched the message are added and converted to a "spam score" that expresses the message's "spam probability". Any message that has a spam probability of 80% or more is blocked by PureMessage and placed in the Quarantine.

3. How does the PureMessage Quarantine work?

Messages that are blocked by PureMessage are placed in the Quarantine for 14 days. After that, the message is automatically deleted. You can manage the contents of your Quarantine by using either the Quarantine Digest or the Web interface.

4. What is the Quarantine Digest?

The Quarantine Digest is an e-mail message that is sent once per day, that includes a listing of all e-mails blocked in the past 24 hours for each user. Students must opt in to receive the Digest. Faculty and staff will automatically receive it and must opt out if they do not wish to continue receiving it.

5. Can I have Web access to my Quarantined messages?

Yes, PureMessage has a Web interface. You may go to https://webmail.wmich.edu:8080/ and use your Bronco NetID and password to login to it.

6. How do I opt in (or out) of the Quarantine Digest?

Login to the Web interface (above) and select "Options". Then check (or uncheck) the box - "Notify me periodically of messages that have been blocked." If you check the box, you will receive the daily Digest. If you uncheck the box, you will no longer receive the digest, however your messages will still be quarantined and you can at any time turn that option back on to receive the daily Quarantine Digest.

7. Someone sent me a message with a password protected attachment and I can't find it

Password protected attachments and e-mails typically wind up being quarantined. You may release them by following the instructions below.

8. Do I have to do anything with the Quarantine Digest e-mail message I receive?

No, you do not have to do anything with the digest. Any messages that are quarantined will be automatically purged after 14 days. You may though chose to review the digest to see if there are any messages you would like to have released and sent to your mailbox.

9. How do I release e-mails from Quarantine and get them sent to my mailbox?

If you are viewing the Quarantine from the digest, you can release all of the messages by replying to the digest e-mail. If you would like to release one or more of the messages, reply to the digest e-mail but just include the lines that correspond to the messages you want released, that is delete the lines that correspond to messages you do not want released.

If you are viewing the Quarantine from the Web interface, you may check the box next to the message and then click "Deliver Message". Or, if you want to always receive messages from that sender, you may click "Deliver Message and Approve Sender".

10. How do I view a blocked message?

Login to the Web interface and in the left navigation menu, click "Blocked Messages". Then click the subject of the message you want to view. The message will open in another browser window. To close the message, simply click the "X" in the upper-right corner of the message.

11. I released a message and it didn't show up in my GroupWise account.

The delivery of a message released from PureMessage quarantine is not instantaneous. Please allow up to 30 minutes for the message to be delivered. If it still does not arrive, it may have been directed to some other location in your GroupWise account by rules or junk mail handling you've previously set up.

To search for the released message, select the "Find" option from the tools pull down menu. In the "Find/Author" field enter the e-mail address from the released message as it was displayed in the PureMessage quarantine screen The search results will include all messages in your mailbox from that address, sorted by date of receipt.

Need More Help?

If you need assistance, the Help Desk is located down the hall at the end of the UCC lab. They may be reached by telephone at (269) 387-HELP, option 1, or by e-mail to .