Graymail Email Filtering Now Available
The Trinity College Information Security Department has implemented a filtering system called Abnormal, which provides a modern solution to address nuisance graymail email content.
What is Graymail?
Graymail refers to the type of emails that aren’t outright spam but might not be of immediate interest or importance to you. These can include newsletters, promotional offers, social media updates, and other bulk emails that you’ve opted into at some point. Unlike spam, which is unsolicited and often malicious, Graymail is legitimate but can clutter your inbox and distract you from more pressing emails.
How Are We Addressing Graymail?
To help you maintain a clean and focused inbox, our updated email security system now includes a feature to automatically identify and filter Graymail into a dedicated “Promotions” folder. This means:
- Less Inbox Clutter: Important emails are easier to find, as newsletters and promotional emails are neatly tucked away.
- Easy Access to Promotions: When you’re ready, all your promotional emails are in one place, making it easier to browse through deals and news without searching through your main inbox.
- Enhanced Security: By separating Graymail from your primary communications, our system can more effectively identify and protect against genuine threats, such as phishing attempts and malware.
To opt into this feature, submit a request here
How to Manage Your Promotions Folder:
Your “Promotions” folder is meticulously curated by our email security system, but you hold the reins when it comes to managing its contents. Here’s how you can interact with this folder to tailor your email experience:
- Moving Emails to Your Inbox: If you find an email in the “Promotions” folder that you believe should have been in your main inbox, simply drag it to your inbox. This action teaches our security AI tool about your preferences, helping it learn which emails you consider important, thereby reducing the chances of similar emails being filtered into the “Promotions” folder in the future.
- Filtering Emails into Promotions: Conversely, if you receive an email in your inbox that you think belongs in the “Promotions” category, you can drag it into the “Promotions” folder. This also informs our security AI tool about your preferences, helping it to better identify and filter similar types of emails into the “Promotions” folder moving forward.
By actively managing your “Promotions” folder in this manner, you keep your inbox focused on the emails that matter most to you and assist in training our email security system to become more attuned to your unique communication needs. For a detailed guide on managing your Promotions folder in Microsoft 365, visit our step-by-step tutorial here.
Conclusion: We hope this update enhances your email experience by reducing clutter and ensuring that important messages receive the attention they deserve. As always, we are here to support our community’s digital well-being and security. Should you have any questions or need assistance with the new system, please do not hesitate to contact our IT support team.
