University of Wisconsin’s Division of Information Technology is currently asking students and faculty to help reduce spam’s exploitation of UW’s WiscMail servers.

A DoIT release revealed the volume of e-mails going through the WiscMail system has doubled since January. Coupled with several virus attacks on UW’s e-mail users, the release stated most e-mail deliveries can now take up to one hour to reach their final destination.

Brian Rust said in an e-mail that DoIT’s first plan of attack to lessen the effect of junk e-mail on UW’s e-mail system is to ask all users to update their anti-virus software as soon as possible — especially before classes end. This will in turn reduce the volume of e-mails traveling through UW’s pipelines.

“[P]lease do what you can to tell your department faculty, staff and students to update their desktop antivirus software,” the release said. “We need everyone to do this … Please do your part.”

Additionally, DoIT will blacklist hosts “flooding” UW’s mail system starting next week. The release also proposed DoIT will “aggressively implement” stronger authentication requirements, adding they might be redesigning the SMTP process.

While blacklisting certain hosts is one plan for the WiscMail system, DoIT is also looking to increase the server’s capacity in hopes of ensuring better service and shortening the time of e-mail delivery. Within days, DoIT will add at least one new server for UW’s e-mail cluster.

UW freshman Nick Zumwalde said he often updates his personal computer’s anti-virus software, but still occasionally notices a delay in e-mail deliveries. Zumwalde, who said spam “can definitely be an issue,” said he believes blacklisting known spammers is a good idea.