The Symantec Endpoint Protection Mobile Edition 6 (SEPME 6) client software includes SMS AntiSpam. This feature allows device users to block or allow incoming SMS messages from specified phone numbers and to act upon other user-created rules.

Please note that SMS AntiSpam is available only on the device client. The administrator cannot manage it or create rulesets which are deployed to all smartphones.

SMS AntiSpam filters spam for SMS (Short Message Service) text messages, not for email that is received on the mobile device.

About SMS AntiSpam for Windows Mobile devices

SMS AntiSpam works by allowing the user to maintain either an acceptable phone number list or a blocked phone number list against which incoming messages are filtered. If the user runs a blocked list and the incoming message is from a number in that list, or if the user runs an acceptable list and the incoming message phone number is not on the list, the messages are routed to a Spam folder.

The user can maintain a separate acceptable list and blocked list; only one list is active at a time.

Configuring SMS AntiSpam

You can add and delete numbers, and import numbers from the contacts list or storage card on the device. Also, in the Message Center on the device, the current message number can be blocked or allowed.

To configure SMS AntiSpam

1. Open Symantec Endpoint Protection.
2. Do one of the following:
   ■ On a Windows Mobile for PocketPC or Windows Mobile Professional device, select Menu > Options > AntiSpam tab.
   ■ On a Windows Mobile for Smartphone or Windows Mobile Standard device, select Menu > Options > AntiSpam Options.
3. Configure the following from the list at the top of the screen:
   ■ Blocked Numbers: Block messages that come from the numbers in the list. If Block Numbers is selected, you can also select Block SMS without number. This item blocks all incoming messages that do not have a number specified. This feature is carrier-specific; some carriers take messages without a number and change them to 000-0000.
   ■ Accepted Numbers: Accept messages only from the numbers on the list.
   ■ Disable SMS AntiSpam: Disables anti-spam functionality.
4. Do one of the following:
   ■ On a Windows Mobile for PocketPC or Windows Mobile Professional device, select Import. Numbers that are already in the AntiSpam filter list are checked.
   ■ On a Windows Mobile for Smartphone or Windows Mobile Standard device, select Menu > Edit Numbers > Menu > From Contacts.
5. To import numbers, select Menu > Import From Address Book.
6. To add a number from the address book to the AntiSpam filter list, place a check mark next to the number, and then select Done.

Numbers and number matching

Phone numbers in the United States and in other parts of the world typically consist of a prefix and a main number. In some areas, the prefix is not necessary to send a message to the device. For example, if your device is registered in the (818) area code in the United States, dialing (818) 555-1212 and 555-1212 results in dialing the same location. Incoming messages follow this same rule, depending on the carrier. If a message is sent from (818) 555-1212, the number may show up as either 555-1212, 818-555-1212, or 1-818-555-1212 on the receiver device.

The filter process attempts to resolve this problem by first obtaining the phone number of the current device, then looking to see what prefix digits exist on the device’s own number, to fill in the missing prefix components if an incoming message number is short. For example, if an incoming message is received from 555-1212, and the device is registered in the (818) area code, this number will match 1-818-555-1212, 818-555-1212, or 555-1212 in the AntiSpam blocked number list. 

Note: If the program cannot obtain the phone number of the device being used, numbers are matched as they are received. An incoming message from 555-1212 only matches against 555-1212, but not against 1-818-555-1212, because the local area code cannot be obtained.

For international messages where the number of digits in a phone number varies from country to country, a message received from one country with a short number of digits may confuse the string compare routine from a second country which uses more digits in the phone number.

About SMS AntiSpam for Symbian (Nokia) devices

SMS AntiSpam allows a mobile device user to classify an incoming SMS message as spam or not spam. If the message is marked as spam, the software moves it to a folder that is reserved for spam messages. The user creates the rules that are applied to SMS messages. The rules specify conditions and the actions that the software takes if a message meets these conditions.

The main display for antispam settings is a list of rules that you create. The list displays the name you create for each rule, and a small icon indicating the action of the rule.

The last rule matching an incoming message is the rule that applies to that message. If there is no rule established, the message is routed to the Inbox.

The administrator cannot configure antispam options.

Setting up SMS AntiSpam rules and conditions

You can establish rules for incoming SMS messages, and set up conditions for each rule. You can also edit or modify existing rules and conditions.

To set up SMS AntiSpam rules and conditions

1. On your device, select the Symantec icon.
2. Depending on your device, do one of the following:
   ■ Select Options > Settings > SMS AntiSpam > Options > New rule.
   ■ Select SMS AntiSpam > More > New rule.
3. Enter the name, condition, and action for the rule in the rule details dialog box.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary to create additional rules and conditions.

Phone number matching
The spam filter compares the incoming message phone number with existing contact phone numbers, starting from right to left. The compare process may match more than one phone number. If at least one match is found, then the antispam rule is applied.

Illustrations

The screenshots below help to illustrate the AntiSpam functionality of SEPME 6 on a Symbian OS: