Residential
Email FAQ
Are there any mail quotas
or restrictions?
How do I know if my email was sent and delivered?
People complain that they can't send me mail. What's wrong?
WebMail FAQ
What is a "WebMail"?
Where do I log in?
Why can't I add a new folder?
Virus FAQ
What is a virus?
How are they spread?
How do I get them?
How do I avoid them?
If I get a virus what should I do?
How do I get rid of one?
If I get a letter from someone who says I sent them a virus what
should I do?
What should I do if someone sends me a virus?
What is InterStar's policy on viruses?
SPAM FAQ
What is InterStar's Policy toward SPAMer's?
Does InterStar give out email addresses?
How does InterStar enforce it's Anti-Spam policy?
Where can I find more information on SPAM?
Is there any screening through InterStar's mail server?
Virtual Domain FAQ
What is a domain?
What is a virtual server?
What is a Virtual Mail Domain?
What types of Virtual Mail Domains does InterStar Offer?
Corporate Virtual Mail Domain FAQ
What are the features?
Configuring Netscape Mail
Configuring Eudora & Eudora Light
How Do I Administrate my Mail Domain?
How Do I Access my Mail Domain web interface for mail?
Residential Email FAQ
Are there any mail quotas or restrictions?
InterStar's mail system operates in much the same way
that a PO Box at the post office does. Mail collects in your
mailbox until you check it with a mail client (Such as Outlook
Express or WebMail). Once you check your mailbox, the mail
is moved either to your mail client (on your PC) or to WebMail
(if you use this) and deleted from the server. Like
the mailbox at the post office, your email box will only
hold a certain amount of mail before it becomes full. This
limit is called the Mailbox Quota.
Mailbox Quota's work as follows...
As each mail messages is received by our server,
your mailbox is examined to see if you have exceeded
your quota limit.
If you have less than 4Mb of mail in your mailbox, the mail is delivered as
is.
If you have 4mb of mail in your mailbox...but less than 5Mb, you will receive
a warning email each day to please check your mail.
If you have 5mb or more of mail in your mailbox, the email will be
rejected and returned to the sender with a mailbox full message.
If your mailbox becomes full, all you need to do is check your
mail from a mail client such as Outlook Express
Email left unchecked on the server for more than 90 days is deleted. You should
check your email more frequently that once every 3 months:-)
How do I know if my email was sent and delivered?
When you send an email, the mail message is first delivered to InterStar's
mail server for processing. Once there, the mail server will attempt to deliver
your message to the mail server of the recipient. If the recipient's mail
sever can't be contacted, say the server is down for repairs, InterStar's
mail server will keep attempting to deliver the message for up to 4 days.
During the 4 days, you will receive messages from InterStar's mail sever telling
you that the message couldn't be delivered and that it has been scheduled for
a re-attempt. This message is just informational and may be deleted and
it is also a good warning that you may have typed in the address wrong or it's
been put into your address book wrong. This is a good time too attempt to contact
the recipient by other means if they are available.
If the recipient's mail server could not be contacted in 4 days, your message
will be BOUNCED back to you with the notification that the recipient could not
be contacted. If you receive this email you should contact the recipient via
another means to verify the email address and to determine if the recipient is
having problems.
If you never receive any error mail, typically this means that the message was
delivered Ok.
People complain that they can't send me mail.
What's wrong?
There are several possible reasons why someone may not be able to send you
email. If you have a mail correspondent that is having difficulty sending you
email, they should receive a mail message back stating the reasons that the
mail could not be delivered. You should have your correspondent provide
a copy of this error message to their mail administrator for trouble resolution.
Possible problems include
1) Your email box is full and won't accept additional mail.
Check your email. It'll free up space on the server so that you can receive
more mail.
2) The person sending you email is doing so from a mail server which allows
SPAMers.
InterStar currently screens all incoming mail for SPAMers by using several
blacklist servers. Interstar currently uses http://relays.ordb.org and http://relays.osirusoft.com. Click on
either of the previous links for more information. Instructions on how
to fix the offending mail server can be located at http://mail-abuse.org/tsi/ar-fix.html . Additional
information on SPAM can be found on InterStar's SPAM FAQ page or by accessing
the URL http://spam.abuse.net/
3) The person sending you email is doing so from a improperly configured mail
server.
InterStar's mail servers conform to the following Internet standards, RFC 882, RFC 883, RFC 973, and RFC 974. Any mail server communicating
with InterStar's mail systems should also conform to the same Internet Standards
for proper mail transmission.
WebMail FAQ
What is a "WebMail"?
WebMail generically refers to a mail program allows you to check your
mail via a web browser (MS Explorer or Netscape). All of InterStar's
residential customers have the use of the VOP WebMail application. You can
access VOP WebMail via the WebMail link on InterStar's homepage or by clicking
on the following URL : http://mail.intrstar.net/webmail.
Where do I log in?
http://mail.intrstar.net/webmail
Why can't I add a new folder?
This feature, while existing, has not been fully implemented.
We have brought this to the vendor's attention. It should be
resolved in the next maintenance update.
Virus FAQ
Q. What is a virus?
It's a computer program that is like a biological virus . These
programs (viruses) perform two basic actions. These are;
(1) to replicate themselves and (2) to perform some action
upon the host computer. Replication can either occur via
some physical form, such as floppies or CDs, or via infection
though electronic mail, which is the most prevalent form
at this time. Host actions can range from something as
simple as an irritating messages to total data loss on
the infected computer. Specifics depend on the exact strain
of virus. Computer viruses can also mutate (with help)
much as the biological form does.
These viruses can take a multitude
of forms. Some of the more standard are....
- Typical Virus
Replicates itself by sending email with itself as an attachment.
Typically impacts host by replicating via email and performing
some sort of data corruption.
- Macro Virus
Computer virus designed to exploit word processing and spread
sheet applications. It attaches itself to an application.
- Computer Worm
Worms differ from standard virus in that a worm will use
the infected host to actively Attack and Infect other
computers. Host actions are varied and destructive.
- Trojan Horse
A Trojan will typically attach itself to an existing executable
program file. When you run the program...you activate
the virus.
Q. How are they spread?
Over any connection one computer may have with another, like
a shared disc, a network such as a LAN, or the Internet.
It is estimated that today, over 95% of all viruses are
transmitted via email.
Q.
How do I get them?
Most often by opening an email attachment. Sometimes just by opening the email!
Just because you get an attachment from a friend doesn't mean it's safe. If
they get a virus, the virus will most likely send itself to everyone they know,
including you:-)
Q. How do
I avoid them?
Avoid is correct; there is No cure that will
keep you safe forever. Since the viruses are constantly mutating, its impossible
to develop a cure for all of them. There are a few things we can recommend. 1)
Obtain Email Anti-Virus mail protection.
This service is typically offered as an additional service by your ISP. This
type of service will stop the majority of viruses from ever reaching your computer.
InterStar currently offers the MailGuard service
which provides this function. 2) Keep your
computer applications up to date.
Applications, such as Outlook Express, Explorer, Netscape,etc, need to be updated
on a regular basis with all the latest bug fixes. The new Windows Updates, (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/)
does a wonderful job for the Microsoft platforms. If you use something different
check with your vendor.
3) Never open an email attachment...
Unless you expect it! Even then be cautious. Does the letter
acknowledge that there is an attachment? Does it 'sound'
like your friend? Is there more to the letter than just
some quickie attachment? If any of your answers were 'no'
then contact the sender telling them you got an attachment
from them and ask if it's safe to open. Better safe than
sorry.
Q. If I get a virus what should
I do?
1) Let the sender know!
Assuming you didn't get infected, the first thing to do is
reply to the letter (deleting the attachment) and let the
other party know that you THINK they MAY have a virus on
their machine. You may be able to stop them from spreading
the virus too far.
2) Disconnect from the Internet!
If you think your machine got infected, disconnect from the
net and then scan your machine using anti-virus software
that has current updates. Do not connect to the net until
you are sure the machine is virus free. When InterStar
detects people spreading viruses we try to contact the
user by phone. If we can't reach you by phone, we will
normally suspend your Internet account until we can reach
you.
Q. How do I get rid of one?
We recommend using a client (PC) based
anti-virus program. There are quite a few vendors available.
You will need to purchase the software and load it onto your
computer. If you feel uncomfortable with this operation take
your computer to your local PC repair technician.
Norton AntiVirus 2002
McAfee VirusScan
Q. If I get a letter from someone
who says I sent them a virus what should I do?
Assume they might be right and get off the net, get scanned, and do what you
must to be certain the machine is virus free. That's not to say that there
aren't people out there who like to spread hoaxes. As a general rule-of-thumb;
if you do not know the people who sent the email, do not respond.
Q. What should I do if someone
sends me a virus?
Assume that they do not know that they are infected. Contact
them and tell them you THINK they MIGHT have a virus. Consider
them innocent of any wrong doing because someday it might be
your machine that gets infected and starts sending out viruses.
And be thankful that you caught it before your machine became
infected.
Q. What is InterStar's policy on
viruses?
If we detect that a customer is sending out viruses we will
try to contact that customer and request that they fix the
problem. If we cannot reach them by phone, we deactivate the
Internet account immediately until the user calls in. The account
is re-activated once the virus has been cleaned.
SPAM FAQ
What is InterStar's Policy toward SPAMer's?
InterStar enforces a strict anti-spam policy for users of
our network. Unfortunately, we are not able to enforce this
policy outside our network.
Currently InterStar implements Anti-SPAM rules, Filters, and
RBLs on all of our mail servers.
Does InterStar give out email addresses?
Absolutely not! We rigidly protect our users right to privacy
and under no circumstances provide email address to other vendors.
How does InterStar enforce it's Anti-Spam policy.
Depending on the severity of the infraction, your account
may be terminated without notice or refund.
Where can I find more information on SPAM..
Further information can be obtained at http://spam.abuse.net . We encourage you to
visit this site.
Is there any screening through InterStar's mail server?
Yes, we put all mail through about 500 tests to see if it
matches known spam and it is also filtered by a RealTimeBlackList
which is managed nationally and there are checks to see if
we are getting a lot of mail from any one source. We have helped
to nearly kill off thousands of viruses running around on the
net. Yes, we do a lot of spam blocking, porn spam blocking,
and even virus blocking and we are always willing to try to
do more. Here's what we need to help us: maybe a subject line
with an offensive word or perhaps an address that a number
of these 'bad' letters came from. To get this information please
send us the headers.
"Also, We have new anti spam technology coming
online sometime in Feb or March (Modus Mail) The new upgrade
provides SIEVE Filtering which is the state-of-the-art for
SPAM/Virus detection. We hope this will make a major impact
on what is still floating through our network."
(Ted Best)
No, we will never be able to block all of it, if we try to,
some of the 'good' letters are going to get blocked as well.
If you get inappropriate mail just don't read it and discard
it. If you get a lot of it forward it to abuse@intrstar.net.
Never reply to any of it and never try to 'unsubscribe'. the
majority of unsubscribe offers only serve to increase the volume
of junk mail that you receive.
Virtual Domain FAQ
What is a domain?
Practically speaking, your domain name (Web/Email address)
is the core of your Internet identity, your online brand. Your
customers will remember this name and use it to find your Web
site, your products or your services and to communicate with
you via email. And since no two parties can ever hold the same
domain name (Web address) simultaneously, your Internet identity
is totally unique.
Technically, a domain name (Web/Email address) is an addressing construct used
for identifying and locating computers on the Internet. While computers use Internet
Protocol (IP) numbers to locate each other on the Internet, people find them
hard to remember. Therefore, domain names (Web/Email addresses) were developed
to permit the use of easily remembered words and phrases to identify Internet
addresses.
Examples:
http://www.mydomain.com (Virtual Web Server
for mydomain.com)
bob@mydomain.com (Virtual Mail Server for mydomain.com)
What is a virtual server?
Once an individual has a domain name, there are normally
(2) standard uses for it. The first is the setup of a web server
that will answer to an address like http://www.mydomain.com
http://www.mydomain.com . The second use is the setup of a
mail server that will receive mail for your domain in the form
of bob@mydomain.com. These services can either be setup on
a DEDICATED server OR can be setup on a SHARED or VIRTUAL server.
A VIRTUAL server is one that is shared between many domains.
Shared servers are less costly to rent than dedicated servers.
They usually require a lower level of technical skills too,
because most of server administration is done by the host.
This is why shared servers are usually the best choice for
entry-level web-sites or for small businesses whose web-sites
do not have high traffic levels.
What is a Virtual Mail Domain?
This means that users give the appearance that they are
running their own DEDICATED mail servers connected to the Internet
whilst, in fact, these functions are being handled by a SHARED/VIRTUAL
servers. This is a key element of presenting an image of professional
Internet presence.
What types of Virtual Mail Domains does
InterStar Offer?
InterStar currently supports two types of virtual mail
domains. The first is the standard Virtual Mail Domain that
is included with all of InterStar's corporate Internet accounts.
The second is the MailGuard Virtual Mail Domain. The primary
difference between the two being that MailGuard includes anti-virus
email scanning.
Please refer to the Standard Corporate
Virtual Domain FAQ or the MailGuard
Virtual Mail Domain FAQ for further information.
Have a Question not on the List?
Send your question to faqs@intrstar.net
Corporate Virtual Mail Domain FAQ
What are the features?
Configuring Outlook, Outlook Express, Pegasus and most other
mail clients
In the sections where one defines the POP3 or IMAP4 username
and password, use the following:
| Don't
Use: |
Use
Instead: |
User: jimbob
Password: SecretWord
Server: intrstar.net |
User: jimbob@domain.com
Password: SecretWord
Server: mail.domain.com |
(substituting your domain name for domain.com)
In the sections where one defines the Outgoing Mail or SMTP
server, you should enter the following
| SMTP
Server: |
| mail.domain.com |
(substituting your domain name for domain.com)
Configuring Netscape Mail
In the sections where one defines the POP3
or IMAP4 username and password, use the following:
Netscape Mail unfortunately strips anything after an
@ sign. So to fool it, you have to use
jimbob%virtualdomain.com
We will interpret the percentage (%) sign the same way
as an (@) sign, but Netscape Mail will consider it as
part of the whole username, thus fooling it.
Note that you can use the (%) sign with all the other
mail clients mentioned above, and it will still work.
The only exception is Eudora.
Configuring Eudora & Eudora Light
Eudora Light is a special case because
it asks for the "POP3 Account" and wants the whole POP3 address
right away. This works fine for "real" domains with IP
addresses, but it doesn't work at all for virtual domains.
Put
jimbob%virtualdomain.com@filter.intrstar.net
instead.
What happens is Eudora will use what's after the (@) sign and use it as
the reference to access the POP3 server. Then, it'll pass the whole jimbob%virtualdomain.com
as the username.
In the sections where one defines the Outgoing Mail or SMTP server, you
should enter the following (substituting your domain name for mydomain.com)
| SMTP
Server: |
| mail.mydomain.com |
How Do I Administrate my Mail Domain?
All administration for your virtual mail domain is handled
via a online web mail manager.
The logon URL for the mail manager if your domain is on MailGuard
is
http://filter.intrstar.net/mailmgr/
The logon URL for the mail manager if your domain is not
on MailGuard is
http://mail.domain.com:8383/
(substituting your domain name for domain.com)
Please note:
[The mail manager for the un-filtered domains is
located at the same address as the mail interface]
These interfaces will allow you to..
- Add a new email address
- Modify an email address
- Set mailbox passwords
How Do I Access my Mail Domain web interface
for mail?
The logon URL for the mail interface if your domain is on MailGuard is
http://filter.intrstar.net/webmail/
Sign-in using entire email address as login name.
The logon URL for the mail interface if your domain is not on MailGuard is
http://mail.domain.com:8383/
Just use login name.
Have a Question not on the List?
Send your question to faqs@intrstar.net
