Have you noticed any email with {SPAM?} in the subject line yet? {SPAM?} is the “spam identifier” inserted by our new SpamCheck program.

SpamCheck inserts this “spam identifier” into the subject line of any message that comes from a known spam site. Known spam sites are listed on several “black hole” lists. We are using three of these lists and have achieved an 85 percent success rate in identifying spam messages.

If you receive a lot of spam, you may want to move all messages tagged with {SPAM?} to another folder or simply delete those messages. If you do not receive spam or want to receive spam you do not need to do anything at all.

Since legitimate email may also come from known spam sites, we suggest that you elect to move all messages tagged as spam to

We are scheduling a brief downtime for several servers in Salem to install new backup batteries. This downtime will affect access capability for those dialing

into Salem and a few web servers. The downtime will only last about five minutes.

The downtime will is scheduled for the second weekend of January

(January 12 and 13).

Again, the downtime will only affect subscribers who dial into Salem. Cape Ann subscribers will not be affected by this scheduled downtime.

another folder. You can then scan that folder for legitimate messages when you wish.

These options are accomplished by setting up filter rules in your email

program.

We have created several web pages to show you how to setup the filter rule for your email program. The SpamCheck page can be

reached at www.cove.com/spamcheck.html, or the SpamCheck link on our Help page. We will also email that page to everyone.

SpamCheck also has

an anti-virus feature, which would enable us to scan and disinfect email before it reaches you. We will be asking for your opinion on this feature soon.

It was another quiet month at the help desk.

Again, most calls were for account setup information.

Our new support team now handles all tech support issues.

If you need help, please ask

for tech support if you call our main office numbers. This will help the answering service properly route your call.

Remember, the tech support team is available 24 hours a day and the direct, toll free number is
877-221-2116.

This was another quiet month on the network as well. None of our upstream providers had any incidents to report.

We will be fine-tuning the SpamCheck server throughout the month.

Work continues on a

number of java-based control panels for virtual email and web servers. We are also upgrading one of our web servers which also hosts our subscribers free web sites. The upgrade should be completed within the first week of January.

Are you pleased with our service? Do you know someone who is unhappy with their current Internet or On-line service?

Why not do them and yourself a favor?

Just recommend our service. If they subscribe, we'll give you a free month of access!

They will appreciate your advice and you'll save a little money.

Again this month, over a dozen subscribers are getting their access in January for free - just by referring new subscribers.

Everybody wins!