Gann Academy uses an integrated hardware and software solution for minimizing spam and virus deliveries to Gann email accounts. Barracuda will:

-block known spam and virus-laden emai
-deliver email that it determines is likely to be spam to your quarantine box
-tag email that falls between the first two categories above but delivers it to your FirstClass mailbox

In addition, users can blacklist unwanted senders so that all mail from that sender will be blocked and whitelist senders so no mail from that sender is ever blocked by managing their quarantine box.

Users must manage their individual Barracuda quarantine mailbox. A link to the Barracuda quarantine device is in the Gann Academy News conference within FirstClass. Summaries and notifications reporting quarantined email will be sent to users periodically. Using the link provide in the email will directly open a browser window and navigate to Barracuda, where quarantined mail can be checked and categorized.

Classifying mail as spam or not spam will train the filter to the kind of email that is spam from a particular user’s point-of-view which should stop mail from that address in the future. Both classifications need to be utilized.

If expected email messages are not coming through Barracuda, please send an email with the address in question to helpdesk@gannacademy.org.

Instructions for maintaining your Barracuda mailbox

Barracuda’s spam filter has the ability to “learn” what spam means to a particular user. When mail is classified as spam (or as genuine mail), Barracuda’s filter remembers the choice and applies that logic to other messages received. Over time, the filter’s performance improves.

There are two ways to check the Barracuda spam firewall. To check the quarantine area of Barracuda without having received a notice via email:

1. Double-click the Barracuda icon in Gann Academy News.

2. Log in using your full Gann email address (e.g. bwayne@gannacademy.org) and the password received via email during the initial setup of Barracuda. Users wishing to access Barracuda for the first time should click "create new password" and one will be sent to their mailbox.

3. Once logged in, a user is presented with different options for classifying messages, as listed below.
            whitelist – any important address that should never be marked as spam
            classify as spam – mail that is spam or junk mail
            classify as not spam - mail that is not important enough to whitelist but important enough to be delivered
           
Rarely use the delete or deliver functions, as they do not train the filter.

To classify a message, check the box before a message and click the classification button below or above the messages. More than one message may be selected before choosing a classification.

4. Click on the Preferences tab to:
            -look at whitelisted addresses and make changes (add/delete addresses)
            -blacklist addresses from which no mail should ever get through the filter 
            -change the password from the automatically generated one to a custom password
            -change Barracuda quarantine settings.

5. Log off and remember to check Barracuda regularly. If you are in need of further assistance, please email the Helpdesk.  

To check the Barracuda quarantine area after receipt of a notice:
                              
1. Acknowledge the email notification that you receive, but ignore the action options in the message. Instead, go to Barracuda directly by the link in the email or from the icon in Gann Academy news. The email link only works from within the school.

Steps 3, 4, and 5 are identical to the first method, shown above.

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