How to block unwanted mail and social media posts FAQ

Management of unwanted emails and social media items

Occasionally, members of the SPH community contact the Helpdesk to request assistance with blocking junk mail senders or to report nuisance or harassing behavior on email or social media. There are many self-service steps that you can take immediately to lessen the impact of the unwanted email and posts.

If the unwanted conduct is harassing in nature and poses a potential danger to you, we encourage you to immediately contact Harvard University Police at 617-495-1212. More information on forms of harassment protected by Massachusetts General Laws may be found at: https://www.hupd.harvard.edu/harassment.

Instructions to help you with specific technologies may be found below:

Report a phishing attempt to Harvard University Information Security

To report a phishing attempt to Harvard University Information Security, please visit: https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=5ef6f2ef37e07e4036fdd8d543990e09

Blocking a sender in Proofpoint

Proofpoint is an email protection system that blocks spam, phishing, and viruses from reaching your inbox. In addition, you can customize your settings to block and un-block specific emails.

Log into proofpoint at http://spam.huit.harvard.edu with your HarvardKey
Select Lists at the bottom
Select Block Senders List
Select New
Add the offending email address and Save

Block a sender in Outlook

1. Go to the “Home” tab and select “Junk”
2. Select “Junk E-mail options”
3. Select the “Blocked Senders” tab at the top
4. Select “Add” to enter email addresses that you want to block emails from

Directions with images:

Go to the “Home” tab and select “Junk”:

Go to the Home tab and select Junk

Select “Junk E-mail Options”:

Select Junk E-mail Options

Select the “Blocked Senders” Tab:

Select the Blocked Senders Tab

Select “Add” to input email addresses you want to block:

Select Add to input email addresses you want to block

For more information, please visit:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/block-a-mail-sender-b29fd867-cac9-40d8-aed1-659e06a706e4

Block a sender in Gmail

If you have an email from the address you want to block:

Open an email from the address you want to block
Click the “…” icon next to the reply icon
Select the option “Block …” to block that address

If you have never received an email from the address you want to block:

Go to settings by clicking the gear icon on the right and selecting “settings”
Select the tab “Filters and Blocked Addresses”
Click “Create a new filter”
In the “From” field enter the email addresses you want to block
Click “Create filter” on the bottom right
Check “Delete it”, about halfway down the list
Click “Create filter” on the bottom right

Directions with images:

If you have an email from the address you want to block:

Click the “…” icon in the top right of the email from the address you want to block:

Select “Block …’” to block emails from that specific email address:

Select Block Stop & Shop to block emails from that specific email address

If you have never received an email from the address you want to block:

Go to the settings by clicking the gear icon on the right side of the Gmail page

Select settings in the drop down menu

Select the tab “Filters and Blocked Addresses” and click “Create a new filter”

In the “From” field enter the email addresses you want to block and click “Create filter”

Check “Delete it”, about halfway down the list, then click “Create filter”

For more information, please visit:
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/8151?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en-GB

Report violation of Gmail policies

To report that a sender has violated Gmail policies, please contact Google at: https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse?hl=en

Block a sender on Facebook

To block a sender on Facebook, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/help/168009843260943

Report violation of Facebook policies

To report that a sender has violated Facebook policies, please contact Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/help/174210519303259?helpref=search

Block a sender on Twitter

To block a sender on Twitter, please visit:
https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/blocking-and-unblocking-accounts

Report violation of Twitter policies

To report that a sender has violated Twitter policies, please contact Twitter at https://help.twitter.com/en/safety-and-security/report-a-tweet

Block a sender on Instagram

To block a sender on instagram, please visit:
https://help.instagram.com/426700567389543

Report violation of Instagram policies

To report that a sender has violated Instagram policies, please contact Instagram at https://help.instagram.com/165828726894770.

Change your Harvard email address

If you’d like to completely change your Harvard email address, the process is as follows:

1. Email the helpdesk@hsph.harvard.edu requesting the change of Harvard email address. Please include a personal email address where you can be reached.
2. Please note the following:

a.      The process takes between 2 and 4 business days.
b.      Your HarvardKey username will change to your new email address, but your HarvardKey password will not change.
c.       If you would like to exclude your new email address from public directory, please contact the Registrar’s Office and ask about their FERPA process.
d.      While your email address will be updated in Harvard systems (e.g. Canvas courses), you will need to contact your personal contacts and notify them of the email change.

How to block text messages on iOS

To block text messages on iOS, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/filter-and-block-messages-iph203ab0be4/ios

How to block calls on Android

To block calls on Android, please visit:
https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/6325463?hl=en