We’ve had quite a few questions concerning the recent deluge of unsolicited emails that are reaching our domain. We are aware of the problem and have implemented the best SPAM filter available. We are also doing what we can as outlined in the FAQ sheet below, but until we see legislation to combat the problem, any other options are limited. There is good news, though. CAN-SPAM bills are moving in both houses of Congress to clamp down on SPAM abuse, so we may have legal recourse in the near future. In the mean time there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

If you use a current version of Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator, you have options available to filter emails containing certain keywords. If you need help setting up a filter, visit the links below for detailed instructions.

Outlook Express 4.x and 5.x
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q187/2/98.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0

Netscape Communicator 4.x
http://help.netscape.com/kb/consumer/19990412-7.html

If you need more help, we can send instructions that will walk you through the process, but we'll need to know which email program and version you are using. If you're not sure of the version, open the email program, click "Help" at the top, then "About" and it should tell you which version you have. You may need to download a newer version off the Internet or install it from our signup CD. If you have more questions regarding SPAM or other topics concerning your Dnet account, please call us at our local support number or email us here at support@dnet.net.

Our Stand on Spam

If you've received an unsolicited email (SPAM), chances are good that we've received the same mail too. Our administrator routinely tracks down the sources of SPAM and files complaints with providers from which they originate. If an ISP complains to us of SPAM coming from one of our customers, the customer gets a warning and their service is terminated if it happens again. This is usually the case throughout the industry. Although the complaints may be effective, SPAMMERS can simply change their providers after each major bulk mailing, so you can imagine that complaints have only limited results. This is also true for the effectiveness of filtering options available in most email programs.

Unfortunately, junk mail is a modern-day fact of life that's made itself part of the Internet. At Dnet we are staying on top of proposed legislation and have implemented the possible technological solutions for this problem, however legal recourse is a limited option at this time. The delete key is always the best response to unsolicited email.
Some Advice
Never reply to SPAM. The bulk mailings go out to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of computer-generated addresses, many of which are invalid. When a reply is made, asking to be removed from a mailing list, etc., it shows the SPAMMER that they've reached a valid address that can be sold to other SPAMMERS. If you've made such a reply and it comes back as undeliverable, it's likely that their service has been terminated or they've already moved on to the next ISP.

As more and more companies and individuals realize that SPAMMING through email is cheaper than a postage stamp, the problem will likely increase. Controlling SPAM can be like trying to herd cats. However, we look forward to seeing legislation that will prevent it in the future.