--- title: "Handling False Positives and Negatives in Email Filtering | DuoCircle" description: "Handling False Positives and Negatives in Email Filtering." image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png" canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/spam-filtering/handling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering/" --- Quick Answer False positives are legitimate emails wrongly classified as spam or malicious, blocking real communication. False negatives are spam or phishing emails that slip past filters into the inbox, leading to credential theft, malware downloads, and fraudulent transfers. Both happen because filters use rule-based and reputation-based algorithms that are not 100% accurate, and AI-generated phishing has made evasive emails harder to catch. Prevention: use reputable filtering tools, review and tune settings regularly, keep all software updated, maintain allowlists and blocklists, and use encryption, MFA, and rotating passwords. Handling: review the spam folder for missed legitimate mail (mark as not spam), review the inbox for missed spam (mark as spam or delete), notify senders or recipients when something seems wrong, report issues to your filter provider, and review filter performance for patterns. DMARC is not a spam filter but pairing it with SPF and DKIM reduces both error types by improving authentication accuracy. Handling False Positives and Negatives in Email Filtering Your browser does not support the audio element. [ Download episode](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/Handling-False-Positives-And-Negatives-In-Email-Filtering.mp3) Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fspam-filtering%2Fhandling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Handling%20False%20Positives%20and%20Negatives%20in%20Email%20Filtering&url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fspam-filtering%2Fhandling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=undefined%2Fblog%2Fspam-filtering%2Fhandling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fspam-filtering%2Fhandling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering%2F&title=Handling%20False%20Positives%20and%20Negatives%20in%20Email%20Filtering "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Handling%20False%20Positives%20and%20Negatives%20in%20Email%20Filtering&body=Check out this article: undefined%2Fblog%2Fspam-filtering%2Fhandling-false-positives-and-negatives-in-email-filtering%2F "Share via Email") ![email filtering](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/SMTP-email-6644.jpg) False positives happen when [email filters](/email-security/email-security-best-practices-in-2024/) **misjudge genuine emails** and mark them as spam or malicious. On the other hand, false negatives are illegitimate and spam emails that pass through these filters without getting detected. Both are problematic for legitimate senders and recipients. Because of false positives, important emails don’t land in the recipients’ inboxes and impact communications. _Whereas, **due to false negatives**, recipients end up getting tricked into downloading malware-infected files, sharing sensitive details, transferring money, etc_. ## Why False Positives and False Negatives Occur? [Email filtering tools](/content/email-filtering-service/email-filtering-tools) are **not 100% accurate** and consistent, as they are based on algorithms driven by criteria and rules to evaluate the content, headers, attachments, senders, and reputation of incoming emails. So, sometimes, **they can be too strict or too lenient**, depending upon the configurations and algorithms. What’s even more bothering is that **threat actors are becoming sophisticated** with their techniques and are able to create emails that look genuine and, hence, bypass [spam filtering](/email/spam-filtering). A large chunk of the credit for generating these [sophisticated phishing emails goes to AI tools](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/28/ai-like-chatgpt-is-creating-huge-increase-in-malicious-phishing-email.html). [![Spam Filters](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/DMARC-generator-1.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/DMARC-generator-1.jpg) ## How to Prevent False Positives and False Negatives? Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to prevent false positives and negatives. By **optimizing your email filters** and adopting secure [email-sending practices](https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/tip/2019s-top-email-security-best-practices-for-employees), you can significantly reduce the risks of these issues. Here are a few strategies you can implement: - _Opt for **reliable and reputable** email filtering tools that offer the best possible accuracy, efficiency, flexibility, and customization._ - Regularly **review the settings** and adjust them as required. - Keep the email filtering tools and all devices using which you access your emails well updated. - Create an [allowlist and blocklist](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/6136740916250-Understanding-the-allowlist-and-blocklist) of senders and domains you trust or mistrust, respectively. - Use [encryption](/email-security/the-evolution-of-email-security-over-time-a-deep-dive-into-eight-modern-email-encryption-protocols/), [multi-factor authentication](/email-security/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-and-its-impact-on-email-security/), and **set up a strong password** that you must change every 3-6 months. [![DuoCircle Infographic](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/07/Email-Spam-Filtering-Statistics.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/07/Email-Spam-Filtering-Statistics.jpg) ## How to Handle False Positives and Negatives? _**Even with the best** prevention measures, false positives and negatives can occur._ To manage them effectively: ### Check Your Spam Folder Regularly review your [spam folder](https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/spam-folder) for any legitimate emails that were mistakenly marked as spam. Mark these emails as ‘**not spam**,’ or move them to your inbox. ### Review Your Inbox Carefully examine your inbox for any [spam emails](https://thehackernews.com/2024/05/ongoing-campaign-bombarded-enterprises.html) that were not caught by your filter. **Mark these emails as spam or delete** them. ### Communicate with Senders and Recipients If you suspect a false positive or false negative, **notify the sender** or recipient and ask them to resend or confirm the message. ### Report Issues Report any false positives or false negatives to your [email filtering service](/content/email-filtering-service) or software provider. **Provide feedback** to help them improve their system. [![email security](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/hosted-email-server-3432.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/06/hosted-email-server-3432.jpg) ### Periodic Review Regularly review your [email filtering performance](https://help.litmus.com/article/277-spam-filters-and-how-they-score-emails) and results. **Look for patterns or anomalies** that might indicate a problem. By following these steps, you can handle false positives and negatives efficiently and help improve the **accuracy** of your email filtering system. ## Does DMARC Prevent False Positives and Negatives? [DMARC](/email/dmarc) itself is not designed to prevent false positives and negatives directly but to enhance the overall email authentication process by building on [SPF](/content/spf-record-check) and [DKIM](/resources/what-is-dkim). However, **implementing DMARC correctly** can significantly improve [email security](/) by reducing the likelihood of both false positives and false negatives, ensuring that emails are properly authenticated. [Contact us](/contact) to get started with DMARC. ## Topics DMARCemail securityUpdates ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) Brad Slavin General Manager General Manager at DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across the email security portfolio. ## Secure your email infrastructure Protect, authenticate, and deliver. Contact our team to find the right solution. [Contact Sales](/contact/) [Explore Products](/products/) ## Related Articles [ News 5m Apple Pay Scam, Crypto Fraud Victims, Retirement Phishing Loss, Cybersecurity News \[April 06, 2026\] Apr 13, 2026 ](/blog/announcements/cyber-security-news-update-week-15-of-2026/)[ News 6m Ransomware EDR Bypass, Apache Parquet Exposure, CISA Oil Threats, Cybersecurity News \[May 05, 2025\] May 13, 2025 ](/blog/announcements/cyber-security-news-update-week-20-of-2025/)[ News 6m GitHub Backdoor Threat, Cartier Data Breach, Fake RubyGems Steal, Cybersecurity News \[June 02, 2025\] Jun 9, 2025 ](/blog/announcements/cyber-security-news-update-week-24-of-2025/)[ News 6m DMV Impersonation Scam, Scania Insurance Breach, Cock.li Records Exposed, Cybersecurity News \[June 16, 2025\] Jun 23, 2025 ](/blog/announcements/cyber-security-news-update-week-26-of-2025/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.duocircle.com/images/duocircle-logo.png"},"description":"DuoCircle is a portfolio of specialized email products covering protection, authentication, delivery, and routing. 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