Junk E-mail Q&A

What is junk e-mail?

Junk e-mail is the electronic equivalent of junk mail. Also known as spam or Unsolicited Bulk E-mail (UBE), junk e-mail is mail that you didn't ask to receive and usually don't want to receive. Junk e-mail often contains advertising come-ons and offensive content.

What is WINCOM doing to stop junk e-mail?

WINCOM has made improvements to our mail handling systems to filter out most junk e-mail. Messages coming from known "spammers" and mass junk e-mailers will no longer land in your mailbox.

How does our system distinguish junk e-mail from regular e-mail?

We have subscribed to MAPS RBL (Mail Abuse Prevention System - Realtime Blackhole List) and ORBS (Open Relay Behaviour-Modification System). MAPS RBL maintains a list of sites that have sent junk e-mail and helps our server block mail coming from these sites. ORBS helps us block messages from un-secured mail servers that allow "spammers" to send messages without being traced.

We also employ a word-matching filter system. This system blocks e-mail messages that include specific subjects or phrases that have been found in spam.

These systems are very effective, but they occasionally block legitimate e-mail messages. If you are concerned about missing messages you may choose to opt out of one or both of these services.

What do I do if I want to receive e-mail from blocked sources?

If you want to continue receiving every message sent to your address, regardless of its origin, you may opt out of our junk mail protection service.

To opt out of MAPS RBL click here and send the e-mail message that pops up automatically.

To opt out of ORBS click here and send the e-mail message that pops up automatically.

To opt out of the word filter system click here and send the e-mail that pops up automatically.

What is the difference between MAPS RBL and ORBS?

MAPS RBL stops messages from known "spammers" and ORBS stops mail that comes from mail servers that are used by "spammers." ORBS is the most complete method for blocking spam but it may block legitimate messages from being delivered to your inbox. If you find that you are not receiving all of your regular e-mail you may choose to opt out of ORBS protection.

For more information about the RBL, see the Realtime Blackhole List website.

For more information about ORBS, see the ORBS website.

For more information about e-mail filtering or for help with opting out call our tech support department at 972-1007.