What’s a scoring threshold (e.g., 5.0 = spam)?

A scoring threshold is the cutoff point that determines whether a message is classified as spam. Messages scoring below the threshold pass through. Messages scoring at or above are flagged.

SpamAssassin uses a default threshold of 5.0. This means a message must accumulate at least 5 points worth of spam indicators before being classified. Organizations can raise this threshold to reduce false positives or lower it for stricter filtering.

Some systems use multiple thresholds. A score of 5 might route to spam, while a score of 15 might trigger outright rejection. This tiered approach handles varying levels of suspicion differently.

Threshold tuning is a balance between catching spam and allowing legitimate mail. Too low catches more spam but increases false positives. Too high lets spam through but reduces user frustration.

The threshold is the waterline that separates acceptable from suspicious. Administrators decide where to draw that line.