Electronic Payment Processing

Email client updates

Information for configuring email clients Outlook Express, Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002, and Mozilla Thunderbird is available here.

These changes should be made as soon as possible, changing the settings ahead of time will not affect your service.

• Spam approaches 95 per cent of all email
• Flood of spam anticipated
• Spam surge threatens e-mail meltdown
• Spammers Now Turn Proxy Hijackers
• Spammers Develop Troubling New Strategy
• A very interesting article

ATTENTION ALL CUSTOMERS.

Computer viruses are often spread by self-executing programs being sent as email attachments.

Users are often tricked by various methods into running the program or opening the attachment, infecting their own PC and spreading the virus on to other users.

To help prevent viruses from spreading, Citizens now follows Microsoft's recommended practices on potentially executable attachments, and blocks these types of mail attachments from passing through our mail servers.

This policy applies to both incoming and outgoing email.

Microsoft's Level 1 ("Unsafe") List.

These file types are already blocked by default in the
latest versions of Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express.

Extension File type
---------------------------------------------------
.ade Microsoft Access project extension
.adp Microsoft Access project
.asx Windows Media Audio / Video
.bas Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat Batch file
.chm Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd Microsoft Windows NT Command script
.com Microsoft MS-DOS program
.cpl Control Panel extension
.crt Security certificate
.exe Program
.hlp Help file
.hta HTML program
.inf Setup Information
.ins Internet Naming Service
.isp Internet Communication settings
.js JScript file
.jse Jscript Encoded Script file
.lnk Windows Shortcut file
.mda Microsoft Access add-in program
.mdb Microsoft Access program
.mde Microsoft Access MDE database
.mdt Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdw Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdz Microsoft Access wizard program
.msc Microsoft Common Console document
.msi Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp Microsoft Windows Installer patch
.mst Microsoft Windows Installer/Microsoft Visual Test
.ops Office XP settings
.pcd Photo CD image; Microsoft Visual compiled script
.pif Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.prf Microsoft Outlook profile settings
.reg Registration entries
.scf Windows Explorer command
.scr Screen saver
.sct Windows Script Component
.shb Shell Scrap object
.shs Shell Scrap object
.url Internet shortcut
.vb VBScript file
.vbe VBScript Encoded script file
.vbs VBScript file
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script file
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings file
.wmf Windows Metafile
---------------------------------------------------
	

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E-mail viruses

PROBLEM: Users without antivirus software are helping to propigate the spread of computer viruses.

Internet and/or email data passing through Citizens networks may, on a regular or intermittent basis, be scanned for virus content and/or activity.
This scanning is performed for the sole purpose of protecting Citizens networks, equipment and ability to serve its customer base.
Any benefit realized by the customer is purely coincidental and may not be construed as an offer of service.

Citizens will not be held liable for damage to your computer by any virus that is not stopped at the server level.

NO virus scanning is 100% foolproof, and there is NO EXCUSE for not running commercial antivirus software on YOUR computer.

Yet another banner month for worms and viruses, unfortunately it's only going to get worse until this 'war' between virus writers ends.

We ask all of our subscribers to PLEASE purchase up to date Anti-Virus software, or renew/update their service agreements with their existing software vendor.

If you need assistance in choosing an Anti-Virus software vendor, please call our Tech Support for suggestions.

SPAM / Unsolicited Commercial Email

PROBLEM: Users receiving unsolicited junk-mail.

Citizens has implemented SPAM filtering software on our mail servers, and we are now in the process of fine tuning the filters. This software is capable of running multiple tests to determine whether messages you are receiving may or may not be SPAM / UCE.

We have also started testing outgoing mail for SPAM / UCE / Bulk E-Mailings. As referenced in our Acceptable Use Policy, Item G. "Using our services to transmit any unsolicited commercial e-mail or unsolicited bulk e-mail is prohibited."

We are now adding tags which indicate the test failed in the subject of the message, for example:

[SPAMCOP] in the subject denotes that it failed the test against the Spamcop database.
[ORDB] in the subject denotes that it failed the test against the Open Relay database.
[VISI-RSL] in the subject denotes that the message failed against Visi.com's Relay Stop List (RSL) which is a list of mail servers that have relayed spam recently.
[WIREHUB-DNSBL] in the subject denotes that the message failed against Wirehub's lists of direct and indirect spam sources.
[WIREHUB-DYNA] in the subject denotes that the message failed against Wirehub's lists of dynamic IP ranges (i.e. spammers sending through cable modems, dsl or dial-up accounts).
[SBL] in the subject denotes a listing with the SPAMHAUS block list of verified spammers, spam gangs and spam services.

WE ARE NOT DELETING OR BLOCKING LEGITIMATE E-MAIL

SPAM filter information Click Here

Current Network Status Click Here

E-Mail Tips:

We all get them. Some well-meaning friend, relative or co-worker sends a message with a get-rich-quick scheme. They sound so convincing, but are they too good to be true? Here are some quick guidelines:

1. There is no way to track a text-only email message. A common hoax asks you to forward on an email to everyone you know. If, for example, 1000 people receive your email you'll be rewarded with cash, a free vacation, free M&M's, etc. In reality, someone is pulling your leg. Microsoft won't send you a check. Microsoft didn't get to be the richest software company in the world by handing out money. You can bet that any email you receive forwarded from Bill Gates or Microsoft is going to be a hoax. The same goes for emails from the CEO of Miller brewing offering free beer and Walt Disney Jr. offering a free vacation.

2. You won't get something free. The lure of valuable, free items like computers or long- distance phone cards gets consumers to pay membership fees to sign up with these scams. After they pay the fee, consumers learn that they don't qualify for the free gift until they recruit other "members."

3. Guaranteed Loans or Credit, On Easy Terms. Some offer home-equity loans, even if you don't have any equity in your home. Others offer guaranteed, unsecured credit cards, regardless of your credit history. The "loans" turn out to be lists of lending institutions and the credit cards never arrive.

4. Bad credit can't just be "fixed." For an up-front fee, they offer to clear up a bad credit record or give you a completely clean credit slate by showing you how to get an Employer Identification Number. No one can erase a bad credit record if it's accurate and using an Employer Identification Number to set up a new credit identity is against the law.


For more information on the Direct Marketing Association's e-MPS E-mail preference service click here.

24 Hour tech support.

Citizens has changed it's 24 hour tech support company.  Due to our increasing subscriber base, we felt it was necessary to upgrade to a larger tech support firm, if you should need assistance after 4:30 PM, please call 423-5777 and a representative will be with you shortly.  If you have any comments about this new service, please fill out this form.

Posted 3/9/01