Shadow mode

In shadow mode, Cayve checks every message and records what it would have done, but lets every message through. Decisions show as would have held and would have blocked, so you can judge Cayve on your own traffic before you trust it.

New sites start in shadow mode

Every new site spends its first seven days in shadow mode. When they’re up, protection starts by itself. The site’s page in the dashboard shows the date.

Switching it on early, or staying longer

On the site’s page in the dashboard, switch the site between Shadow mode and Protecting at any time. You can also switch shadow mode on and off from WordPress under Cayve → Protection → Shadow mode on this site.

There’s no limit on how long a site can stay in shadow mode.

What to look for

1. Open the site’s decisions in the dashboard, or Cayve → Messages → Would have acted in WordPress.
2. For each “would have blocked”, check it really is junk.
3. For each “would have held”, decide whether you’d have wanted it.
4. If Cayve is wrong, open the decision and press It’s spam or It’s a real message. Your site learns from it straight away.

If too many real messages would have been held, raise the site’s hold score in its rules; if too much junk would have got through, lower it.

Does shadow mode count toward my plan?

Yes. Checks in shadow mode are real checks and count toward your monthly allowance.