Users of llu.edu e-mail addresses may find it helpful to visit spamtrap.llu.edu periodically to ensure they are receiving all desired messages.
“A vast majority of e-mail is spam,” says Rick Duvall, information security architect, LLU Medical Center. “This includes mass-marketing messages, forwards, and malware. Malware programs attempt to harm people’s computers, steal data, or swindle passwords and personal information.”
LLU Health blocks most such e-mails from reaching people’s llu.edu inboxes in order to avoid straining storage capacity and overwhelming users. However, it is possible that the occasional wanted e-mail may be blocked.
LLU Health e-mail users can visit spamtrap.llu.edu to see blocked mail and control what messages reach their inboxes. One can accept or reject blocked mail; whitelist or blacklist senders, domains, and networks; and choose the aggressiveness of spam filtering.
For most people, the default settings should work fairly well, according to Larry Bishop, director of university network. Completely disabling spam filtering is not recommended.
“Minimize your exception rules,” Mr. Bishop recommends. “They can become confusing and result in either passing too much spam to your mailbox or accidentally blocking more legitimate e-mail.”
That may be dangerous because many spam messages can be harmful.
“A user should never trust an e-mail requesting unexpected actions or information, even if it appears to be from a known contact,” Mr. Duvall says, noting that people’s e-mail addresses can be hijacked to send spam.
Mr. Bishop offers further recommendations for e-mail safety:
• Verify links in suspicious emails; it is not uncommon that clicking on them will lead you to a different website than the one shown. To be safe, type the link yourself.
• LLU Health will never send e-mails asking individuals to validate their username and password. All such requests should be ignored.
• Do not open any attachments from unknown e-mail sources.
• If unsure of any e-mail, call the helpdesk for guidance.
Medical Center employees: Ext. 48889
University employees: Ext. 48611 or lluhelpdesk@llu.edu