Spam: Thunderbird's filter and the server filter

At WebOké, spam is stopped on the server before Thunderbird even fetches your mail. Thunderbird also has its own self-learning spam filter. Below you can read how to make them work well together.

Step 1: the filter on the server

Our mail servers refuse mail from known spammers. Whatever gets through after that is given a score by SpamAssassin. In DirectAdmin you decide per domain how strict that filter is and where spam goes (see SpamAssassin Setup and Spam: how WebOké stops it, and how to train and test the spam filter).

Under Blocking strategy, choose User Spambox. Spam then goes to the spam folder of your mailbox. On the server this folder is called Junk, in Thunderbird Spam or Junk. Can't see it? Then subscribe to it (see Creating folders and choosing the right folder for Sent, Drafts and Deleted).

Senders, domains or words you always want to block can be added under SPAM Filters in DirectAdmin (see SPAM Filters: block senders, domains and words).

Step 2: Thunderbird's spam filter

1. Click the menu button, choose Account Settings and click Spam Settings under your address.
2. Leave the self-learning spam controls switched on.
3. Tick Move new spam messages to: and choose the spam folder of your mailbox (Junk on the server). This way all spam ends up in one folder on the server, whether it is recognised by the server, by Thunderbird or by the spam button in webmail. Don't choose any other folder.
4. Tick Trust spam headers set by: and choose SpamAssassin. Thunderbird then adopts our server's verdict.
5. Under Trust email addresses in these address books:, tick your address books. Thunderbird will then never treat mail from people listed in them as spam.

In some versions of Thunderbird, spam is still called Junk. It works the same way.

Step 3: teach the filter what spam is

• Spam in your Inbox? Select the message and click Spam (or press J). Thunderbird learns from this and moves it to your spam folder.
• A genuine message in your spam folder? Open it and click Not Spam (or press Shift+J). Then drag it back to your Inbox.

The filter on the server also learns from what you do: drag spam to the spam folder (Junk) and genuine mail back to your Inbox (see Spam: how WebOké stops it, and how to train and test the spam filter). This only works with that folder. You can read more about folders in the article about folders in your mailbox.

Please note: Never click links in spam and never open attachments. Not sure whether a message is genuine? Read How a phishing message works.