MachLink® Help Center
MachLink's Email and File Storage Specifications
Email Features
Thanks to recent server upgrades, MachLink's email service is MORE SECURE and MORE RELIABLE than ever! Not to mention, MORE POWERFUL and EASIER TO ACCESS! Most Internet Service Providers limit email messages to small file sizes and offer only a small amount of storage space for email and personal web files. Not at MachLink! Check out the benefits of our email service:
MAIL STORAGE - 50MB
PERSONAL WEB SPACE - 50MB
MAXIMUM EMAIL MESSAGE SIZE - 20MB
Best of all, with MachLink's new servers, remote email access is here! Now, you can CHECK MAIL ANYWHERE with MachLink's web-based email service!
Check Mail Anywhere
With MachLink's new servers, remote email access is here! Now, you can CHECK MAIL ANYWHERE with MachLink's web-based email service! To begin, click on the appropriate link:
@MachLink email address users: http://cma.machlink.com
@Muscanet email address users: http://cma.muscanet.com
Check Mail Anywhere(New Features)
Many Muscatine Power & Water (MP&W) customers use the Check Mail Anywhere (CMA) website to check their email. It is especially handy for customers who want to check email remotely such as those who travel.
Several new features have recently been added to CMA, and one of the most important of these is a new security option called Unsafe Image Rules. When viewing emails with images in CMA, graphics that present a potential security issue are replaced with a message that will display: “This image has been removed for security reasons.” This potential security problem will only affect those who use HTML (HyperText Markup Language) to display their email within CMA.
There are two kinds of images that can accompany HTML email: images that come attached to the email itself or images that link to remote sites. An example of an image that is attached to an email would be one in which a person attaches photos to an email that they wish to send to a friend or relative. An example of “unsafe images” are images that are linked to a remote site.
These images are considered “unsafe” for the following reasons:
1. Spammers can use this to validate your email address.
2. The sender will know instantly if you have or have not read their email.
3. The sender can receive information about your browser, operating system, and your mail server.
Here are more details on the above issues and how your system may be compromised when clicking on an image:
1. Validating your Email Address
Spammers can include specially crafted image tags that contain what is called a “bug.” A “bug” can be used to validate your email address and validate that you read the email. When such an image is loaded, a request is sent to the spammer's server and makes notes in its database of email addresses. These addresses are then resold and the amount of spam you receive will continue to grow.
2. Verifying That You Have Read Your Email
If there are images in the email that link to the sender's website, they will know when you have opened and read the email. This can be used to prove the email was opened and read.
3. Finding Out Information About You
When an image is loaded off the remote server, it leaves a “log” entry about the type of system you are using, including: the version of your browser, your Internet IP address and information about your mail server and software. This information could be used to carry out attacks either on your computer or on the server where Check Mail Anywhere resides.
4. Malicious Tags
Images in email also can be used to execute scripts in an attempt to trick your browser into revealing your account information to other people who have malicious intent.
For these reasons, Check Mail Anywhere does not display these “unsafe” images by default, but instead shows you a warning sign. If you know that the email comes from a trustworthy source, you can use the Unsafe Image Rules item on the Options page to configure Check Mail Anywhere to display images from that particular source.
The above information should give you a better appreciation for the security problems you may encounter while reading your email. The next time you see the warning “This image has been removed for security reasons” in your email, think of the possible security issues.
Check Mail Anywhere - Basic Customizing
For people that like to customize their software, the Check Mail Anywhere (CMA) web site (http://cma.machlink.com) offers lots of settings that make this easy.
A. COLORS
When the CMA web site is initially logged into, it comes with default background colors.
For those interested in changing these colors, there are some colors or themes already setup. To reach these different backgrounds, click on OPTIONS/DISPLAY PREFERENCEs. There should be a drop down box titled THEMES.
The screen shot above shows a few of the many themes available.
After making a selection, click on the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page. After doing this, it may be necessary to click the REFRESH button on your web browser.
Here is an example of how the CMA web site will look after selecting Alien Glow theme:
To reset your background colors, under THEME, just select DEFAULT and click on the SUBMIT button. Be sure and refresh your web page to update the background colors.
B. VIEWS
The view of the CMA web site can be changed in many ways. Besides changing the background color or theme, it is also possible to change the amount of emails that are displayed. The default setting shows 15 messages at a time.
To increase the amount of emails shown from 15 to 30, click on OPTIONS/DISPLAY PREFERENCES and change the number from 15 to 30 in the NUMBER OF MESSENGES TO INDEX box. After making the change, click on the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page. After doing this, click on the INBOX button on your web browser to refresh the display and change the number of emails that get displayed.
There are many more display changes that can be made to Check Mail Anywhere. Making just a few changes can personalize the display to your liking. Just about all settings have a default so that if something goes wrong, you will be able to recover with no little more than just a click of a button.
Protect Yourself - Protect Your Password
As a computer user with Internet access, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and the security of your personal data is to protect your computer usernames and passwords. Computer passwords should never be shared with anyone. Whereas a credit card can be cancelled in the case of fraudulent use, and your loss is typically limited to $50, there is no such guarantee or ability to limit the use of a stolen password.
Change your password regularly and immediately if you suspect it may have been stolen.
In order to protect your password, you should change it frequently. As a general rule, you should change your password at least every six months, and immediately whenever you suspect the security of your password has been breached.
MachLink passwords must be at least 6 characters long.
Short passwords are easily hacked. MachLink requires that user passwords be at least six characters long. For even greater security, it is recommended that your password be at least eight characters and include a combination of letters and at least two numbers.
How do I change my password?
Changing your password is simple with MachLink's Mailbox Manager tool. To change your password, you will need to know your current password. If you have lost or forgotten your password, you will need to have it reset by the MachLink Helpdesk. Call 563-262-3422 to receive your password information.
If you do know your current password, follow these simple steps:
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Access the Internet and open your browser. If you're a MachLink customer, go to http://mailmanager.machlink.com. If you're a Muscanet customer, go to http://mailmanager.muscanet.com. |
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Log in using your regular MachLink or Muscanet username and password. |
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Under CHOOSE AN ACTIVITY , select CHANGE MY PASSWORD .
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Select a new password and enter it in the NEW PASSWORD box. Confirm the password by retyping it in the CONFIRM PASSWORD box.
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Your new password is now enables. Don't forget it!
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Notes: |
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For greatest account security, it's a good idea to change your password on a regular basis - try to get into the habit of changing your password once each season. Never use the same password for longer than six months. |
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Longer passwords (at least 8 characters) and those that use a combination of letters and at least two numbers are most secure. |
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If you ever forget your password, call the MachLink 24/7 Helpdesk
(563) 262-3422 and we'll be happy to reset it for you. MachLink does not keep record of your current email address(s). |
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Step 2: Change Your Password in Outlook Express
After you have changed your password: |
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Launch Outlook Express. When prompted for your password, type in the new one and check REMEMBER PASSWORD. Click OK. |
Blocking Unwanted Email & SPAM
Are you receiving a lot of unsolicited email messages, or SPAM? We understand the frustration you feel. At MachLink you can be reassured that we do not provide any customer information to third parties. As a public utility, we have guidelines that specifically prohibit this type of information selling.
SPAM and How to Avoid Getting It
Never reply to a spam asking to be removed. If you do this then you have validated your email address as live. The spammer may well remove your email address from their database, but they might sell all these validated email addresses to other spammers. So the best advice is simply press the delete key.
There is software available which can extract email addresses from web sites. So instead of having your email address on your web site, consider using a form instead. You can have a drop-down list of the departments or the people that the form is destined to.
As with the above if you post messages to some notice boards, these boards can also be searched for email addresses, so be careful.
If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, use the ‘Rules Wizard’ or ‘Message Rules’ to detect for emails that contain certain words. Outlook or Express can then automatically put these emails into a ‘possible spam’ folder.
Set up a few ‘free’ email accounts if you regularly ask for information from web sites. Set these up bearing in mind that one day you will ignore all the emails going to it.
If you open an email, it is possible that the sender knows you have seen it. An ID tag can be attached to the page and the the sender’s server knows you’ve opened it because your computer would start downloading images. So be sure to go offline before you open any emails.
Emails can be sent with a "read receipt" request attached. So if you get a window saying “The sender has requested a read receipt be sent” select NO, unless of course you know that person.
Sometimes to get you to reply to an email you might get in the subject line “Re: password” and then in the message there will be a random number. Again, just delete it.
Another spam technique is a message asking you to delete them from your database. When you check your database, you can’t find them and they are hoping you will reply saying they are not in your database. If you do this you have just validated your email address.
Option to Delete SPAM at the Server - you can choose to categorically delete email tagged as SPAM and will not have to wait for it to download to your mail client. You will no longer have to manually delete SPAM.
You will have two different selections available:
Delete Email Tagged as SPAM at the Server
Deliver Email Tagged as SPAM to my Mail Client
If you make the selection of DELETE EMAIL TAGGED AS SPAM AT THE SERVER, the following disclaimer will be presented in a dialogue box:
"You have selected the DELETE EMAIL TAGGED AS SPAM AT THE SERVER Option. These emails will be permanently deleted. in choosing this option you understand and agree that MP&W is providing this service option for your convenience and is not responsible for deleted email. It is strongly recommended that you select a SPAM detection setting no lower than 5 when using this option."
How can you minimize the amount of junk mail you receive? Here are some actions you can take:
Use MachLink's Mailbox Manager Utility to Filter Out Unwanted Email
To get started with MachLink's Mailbox Manager, click here (or, if you have an @muscanet.com email address, click here). Once you've setup Mailbox Manager to detect SPAM, click here for more instructions on how to make the best use of this convenient service.
Create an Alternate Email to Use
To change your email address, please contact us by phone at (563) 263-2631. We will provide you with a new username and password and help you reconfigure Outlook so that you can begin using your new email account.
Use Outlook Express to Block Email from Certain Senders
You can use Outlook Express to block messages from a particular sender. Once you have configured Outlook Express to block email from a particular sender, all future email from this sender will go directly into your DELETED ITEMS folder.
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Open Outlook Express. |
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Highlight the offensive email in the upper box by clicking on it. |
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From the top menu bar, open the MESSAGE menu and click BLOCK SENDER. |
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A window will appear telling you this address has been added to your BLOCKED SENDERS list, and ask if you would like to remove all messages in your current folder from this particular sender. Click YES. |
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Notes: |
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Outlook Express can only block standard POP mail messages. It cannot block HTTP mail (i.e. Hotmail) or IMAP messages. |
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You will need to set up the BLOCK SENDER feature for each sender whose email you wish to have automatically deleted. |
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To remove a name from the BLOCKED SENDERS list, from the Tools menu, select MESSAGE RULES, and click BLOCKED SENDERS LIST. |
Use Outlook Express to Manage SPAM
Once you set up MachLink's Mailbox Manager to detect SPAM, for even greater convenience, you can use Outlook Express to sort out the unwanted messages.
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Open Outlook Express. |
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On the TOOLS menu, click MESSAGE RULES and then MAIL. |
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If the MESSAGE RULES dialog box is displayed, click NEW, and create a new rule as follows: |
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Under step 1, CONDITIONS, check the box for WHERE THE SUBJECT LINE CONTAINS SPECIFIC WORDS. |
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Under step 2, ACTIONS, check the box for MOVE IT TO THE SPECIFIED FOLDER. |
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Under step 3, RULE DESCRIPTION, check the box for CONTAINS SPECIFIC WORDS.
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When prompted for a specific word or phrase, type *****SPAM and then click ADD. Click OK to close the dialog box.
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Under step 3, RULE DESCRIPTION , click the link for SPECIFIED folder.
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Click the NEW FOLDER button. Type FILTERED SPAM for the folder name and then click OK. Click OK again to close the MOVE dialog box.
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Under step 4, NAME, enter a name for your rule and click OK.
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The MESSAGE RULES dialog box will be displayed.
If you have multiple rules, you will probably want the SPAM rule to be applied first. Rules are applied according to their order from top to bottom. Select the SPAM rule and then click the MOVE UP button to move this rule to the top of the list.
If you only want to apply this rule to new messages, click OK to close the dialog box.
If you want to apply the rule to currently downloaded messages, check the box for the SPAM rule and click APPLY NOW.
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If you choose to apply the SPAM rule now, the APPLY MAIL RULES NOW dialog box will be displayed.
Ensure that the SPAM filter rule is highlighted.
If you want to apply the rule to a folder other than the one displayed in the APPLY TO FOLDER field, click BROWSE to select a new folder.
Click APPLY NOW to apply the SPAM rule to the selected folder.
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Click CLOSE to close the APPLY MAIL RULES NOW dialog box. |
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Click OK to close the MESSAGE RULES dialog box. |
Making the Most of Your Email Service
To help you make the most of your email service, we'd like to share the following tips:
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Tip #1
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Download or delete your email on a regular basis.
Our email servers are not intended to be used for email storage. Please download your email from our server on a regular basis. If you do not download your email, when you reach email capacity on our server, you will no longer be able to receive email.
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Tip #2
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If you use Check Mail Anywhere, don't leave email in your TRASH or SEND MAIL folders.
If you use the web to access your email, be sure to delete email from the TRASH folder and the SEND MAIL folder. All mail left online in your TRASH and SEND MAIL folders will be deleted on a weekly basis. |
Disabling Email Scanning
Email Virus Scanning
Email/Antivirus programs have recently added a feature in which they try to use proxy server settings to scan email before it gets to customers. Unfortunately, the changes that these programs make to the email program's settings, do not work correctly and you as a customer will not be able to check your email. You must disable the email scanning/protection feature of these products and return the settings to their original state before you will be able to receive email.
How to Disable Various Types of Email Scanning Programs
*****CLOSE EMAIL PROGRAM BEFORE BEGINNING*****
1. Start Norton AntiVirus™. In the SYSTEM TRAY, right-click the Norton AntiVirus icon and select the option OPEN NORTON ANTIVIRUS from the menu.
If Norton AntiVirus™ is installed as part of Norton SystemWorks™ or Norton Internet Security™, then start that program.
2. Click OPTIONS.
3. If you see a menu, click NORTON ANTIVIRUS.
4. In the left pane, click EMAIL.
5. In the right pane, uncheck SCAN INCOMING EMAIL and SCAN OUTGOING EMAIL.
6. Click OK.
7. If you are running Norton AntiVirus™ 2005, then in the PROTECTION ALERT dialog box, on the drop-down menu, click PERMANENTLY, and then click OK.
8. Exit Norton AntiVirus™.
MCAFEE®
The McAfee® VirusScan icon is located on the bottom right-hand corner of the desktop in the system tray. Right-click the icon and select OPEN SECURITY CENTER from the menu.
The McAfee® Security Center window will open. In the left-hand column, select the VIRUSSCAN tab under the section that states "TASK" or "I WANT TO" then click on CONFIGURE VIRUSSCAN OPTIONS.
The MCAFEE VIRUSSCAN-OPTIONS window will appear.
1. Select the ACTIVESHIELD tab.
2. Under WINDOWS START, uncheck the option SCAN EMAIL AND ATTACHMENT.
3. Click the APPLY button to save the changes. Click OK and close McAfee®.
AVG
In the system tray, right-click the AVG icon and select the option RUN AVG ANTIVIRUS CONTROL CENTER from the pop-up menu.
Click the EMAIL SCANNER button.
Uncheck the box next to CHECK INCOMING MAIL and the box next to CHECK OUTGOING MAIL. Click OK. Close AVG CONTROL CENTER.
PC-CILLIN™
Open PC-Cillin™. Uncheck ENABLE INTERNET MAIL SCANNING/ANTI-SPAM. Click APPLY. Close PC-Cillin™.
To return the settings in Outlook Express to their original state follow these steps:
1. In Outlook Express, click ACCOUNTS on the TOOLS menu. Select a Mail Account.
2. Click the PROPERTIES button.
3. Click the SERVERS tab.
Make sure that the Email Settings are as follows:
INCOMING (POP3) SERVER: mail.machlink.com
OUTGOING (SMTP) SERVER: mail.machlink.com
ACCOUNT NAME: username (be sure that the account name does not have @machlink at the end)
PASSWORD: <email password assigned>
Error 553
Why is my email being rejected giving me an Error 553 or stating that I am not logged in as owner?
Answer – You should check your email account info to assure SMTP is configured correctly
Solution – Machlink Internet customers will have to use “SMTP Authentication”
(follow the steps below to find the setting)
SMTP Authentication for Mail Clients
Setting up SMTP Authentication
Muscatine Power and Water has secure email servers that require"SMTP authentication". If you have an @Machlink.com or @Muscanet.com email account, and if you use Outlook/Outlook Express or Eudora, you will need to make sure that SMTP authentication is set up on your email program, or you will not be able to send email. (Netscape users do not need to change their email settings. If you use another program to send and receive email, you will need to refer to the program's documentation or contact the program's customer support group for instructions on how to set up SMTP authentication.)
If you don't enable SMTP authentication and you try to send an email, you will receive an error message that includes the text:
"Relay Access Denied"
Here's what to do:
Outlook Express 5.0 and 6.0 Users
Follow these steps:
1. Run Microsoft® Outlook Express.
2. In Outlook Express from the TOOLS menu, select ACCOUNTS to open the INTERNET ACCOUNTS window.
3. Double-click on your email account in the INTERNET ACCOUNTS window to open your email account PROPERTIES window.
4. In the EMAIL ACCOUNT PROPERTIES window click on the SERVERS tab.
5. In the OUTGOING MAIL SERVERS section, select MY SERVER REQUIRES AUTHENTICATION, then click on the SETTINGS button to open the OUTGOING MAIL SERVER window.
6. Click the APPLY button.
7. Click OK.
8. Click CLOSE in the INTERNET PROPERTIES window.
Outlook 97 Users
Follow these steps:
Download and install the Outlook 97 Internet Mail Enhancement Patch from here. (directions from Microsoft® are on the same page)
Outlook 2000 Users
Follow these steps:
1. Run Outlook 2000.
2. In Microsoft® Outlook 2000 from the TOOLS menu, select ACCOUNTS to open the INTERNET ACCOUNTS window.
3. Double-click on your email account to open the EMAIL ACCOUNT PROPERTIES window.
4. In the EMAIL ACCOUNT PROPERTIES window click on the SERVERS tab.
5. In the OUTGOING MAIL SERVERS section select MY SERVER REQUIRES AUTHENTICATION.
6. Click the APPLY button.
7. Click OK.
8. Click CLOSE in the INTERNET PROPERTIES window.
Outlook 2000 and Outlook Express Users
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Open Outlook/Outlook Express. |
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Click on TOOLS on the top menu bar. |
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Click on the drop-down list and click on ACCOUNTS.
Note: If you are an Outlook 2000 user, depending on the configuration of your software, it might say SERVICES instead of ACCOUNTS. if this is the case, click on SERVICES. Click on INTERNET EMAIL, and proceed to Step #5 (below). |
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An INTERNET ACCOUNTS screen will open. Click on the MAIL tab and highlight your @MachLink or @Muscanet email account. (If there is more than one @MachLink or @Muscanet email account listed, select the first email account.) |
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Click on PROPERTIES. |
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In the PROPERTIES window, click on the SERVERS tab. |
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Place a check mark in the box that says, MY SERVER REQUIRES AUTHENTICATION (see example below). |
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Repeat Steps #4-8 for all other @machlink or @muscanet email accounts listed in the INTERNET ACCOUNTS screen. Click OK and close the INTERNET ACCOUNTS screen. You will now be able to send and receive email. |
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Note: If you have set up multiple user identities under Outlook Express, from the FILE menu on the top toolbar, you will have to switch identities, and then for each identity, follow steps #2-8. |
If you have an @machlink.com account and are using Outlook,
your SMTP authentication screen should look like this:
If you have an @muscanet.com account and are using Outlook,
your SMTP authentication screen should look like this:
Outlook XP Users
Follow these steps: |
