IMAP setup with Apple Mail

[grueni]

Hi,

used SpamSieve since Mailsmith days and mostly on POP3 accounts. Never bothered much about setting it up properly and understanding all it does… (my bad)

Now finally moving my main 3 accounts to IMAP rather than POP3 ( Mac / Ipad and iPhone ). Doing a clean install of everything on a new MBpro 14” (yay) and am wondering how to set up and deal with Spamsieve / Spam.

This is the setup my provider has as a default on the server side, a number of activated rules related to various Spam filters they offer.

I also plan to use my own rules to sort out some specific mails (tax guy, bank, current project etc.) into specific folders I’ll have to create inside the IMAP structure (sample here AMPAS related stuff, there is an “AMPAS business” folder and the needed rule.)

Now as I move to IMAP the Spam should obviously be moved to the “Junk” Folder in that specific IMAP account (to be still accessible on iPad and iPhone) , NOT a general Spam Folder on my computer that I had used with my POP3 setups.

Question, what’s with SPAM filters…

1. should I leave the server side spam filters active, they are mostly set up to put Spam in the “Junk” folder.

2. Or should I deactivate all server side spam filters and rely 100% on Spam Sieve doing it locally. Keep in mind iPad and iPhone don’t have that “SpamSieve” ability so if I go fully Spamsieve the finding and dealing with spam can only happen when my Macbook is online. If I travel I often am at more remote locations where the laptop is in my backpack and basically not online, so “Spam hygiene” would happen e.g. only in the evening in the hotel…

Also when I use server side rules to sort incoming emails into specific sub-folders, I would need to include these specific sub-folders in the Spamsieve “to check” list. right ?

Any recommendation and insights would be appreciated.

kindest regards Grueni

[Michael_Tsai]

@grueni

should I leave the server side spam filters active, they are mostly set up to put Spam in the “Junk” folder.

This could be useful if you want some of the spam to be filtered out when your Mac isn’t running. It can be a problem for some customers if the server filter is too aggressive and catches good messages by mistake. SpamSieve does have a rescue script that can be installed to help mitigate that.

@grueni

Also when I use server side rules to sort incoming emails into specific sub-folders, I would need to include these specific sub-folders in the Spamsieve “to check” list. right ?

Right.

[grueni]

@Michael_Tsai

@grueni

should I leave the server side spam filters active, they are mostly set up to put Spam in the “Junk” folder.

This could be useful if you want some of the spam to be filtered out when your Mac isn’t running. It can be a problem for some customers if the server filter is too aggressive and catches good messages by mistake. SpamSieve does have a rescue script that can be installed to help mitigate that.

Wow Saturday advice from the Master him self ! much appreciated !!

I like whatever the server does prior to the Macbook doing it, so I’ll leave them on. Any false positive would at least be accessible for all devices, as all found Spam is moved into the IMAP account’s special “Junk” folder. Hence nothing is completely lost, if I really miss a mail I can always check “Junk” …

Only the first Rule rejects Mail completely and is non-editable so maybe I’ll deactivate that one. But so far I had noticed no issues with mails not showing up at all. Also the description does sound a bit like what SpamSieve does … no ? Just no personal training by me…

Last not least the filter labeled “Virus Scanner” would remove malware (as recognised) and the message will be left in the inbox with an according noted added. Also nice to have.

thx for your advice !

kindest regards Grueni

[Michael_Tsai]

@grueni

Any false positive would at least be accessible for all devices, as all found Spam is moved into the IMAP account’s special “Junk” folder.

Yes, the main thing to remember is to train any false positives on the SpamSieve Mac or using the special TrainGood mailbox. (It’s not necessary to train SpamSieve with the server filter’s false negatives, though it’s OK if you do. You can tell the difference on the SpamSieve Mac by the colors.)

@grueni

Only the first Rule rejects Mail completely and is non-editable so maybe I’ll deactivate that one.

Yeah, that one would be more dangerous.

@grueni

Also the description does sound a bit like what SpamSieve does … no ?

It sounds to me more like a crowd-sourced evaluation rather than based on the content of the message (like SpamSieve), but I suppose “different criteria” could include anything.