Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Aliases
    What's an alias good for?
    How do I get one? How much does it cost?
    How do I use it?
  2. About sending and receiving mail
    How to block an e-mail address?
    Why am I getting so much spam?
  3. How to set up my mail program for POP3

  • Aliases

    Q:  What's an alias good for?

    A: 

    An alias ('ay lee uhs) literally means: A false or assumed name. On our system it means: an extra name on the same mailbox. This is really all it means, and nothing more. An alias is not a separate user.

    This implies a lot of no-no's:

    • you cannot log in separately for an alias to download only his mail
    • you cannot have separate filing cabinet passwords for aliases
    • an alias cannot be a member of conferences
    • an alias cannot have separate forwarding
    • etc.

    Only the actual user can do these things.

    The alias simply serves as a different name for the same mailbox. It can however be used by families as long as they don't mind to have their mail in the same filing cabinet, and they don't travel independent of each other. The main purpose, however, is to allow you to add the name of your business or organization, or your civil name in addition to your devotee name.

    So, mail to an alias will be downloaded along with the regular mail into the same filing cabinet, but sorted into separate boxes (WinCOM 39 onwards).

    Aliases are always listed in the PAMHO Address Book.

    Q:  How do I get one? How much does it cost?

    A: 

    An alias is free of charge.

    Send your desired alias to .

    Q:  How do I use it?

    A:

    Let's look at our user "Mahabelli (das) JAY (Pitsadesh - ZZ)". He just got himself an alias "Govinda Icecream" <govinda.icecream@pamho.net>.

    Mail addressed to "Govinda Icecream" will be downloaded along with the his own mail, into the same filing cabinet. It will be in a separate box as In-Basket > Letters > Govinda Icecream. The header will show: "To: Govinda Icecream".

    When Mahabelli replies to mail sent to Govinda Icecream, the reply will naturally be sent from "Govinda Icecream" <govinda.icecream@pamho.net>.

    Now, if Mahabelli wants to send a new mail on behalf of Govinda Icecream, he needs to click on the arrow in the From: line (WinCOM 41 onwards) or double-click the From: line (v39 to 41) in his new text. He will be presented with a list containing both "Mahabelli (das) JAY (Pitsadesh - ZZ)" and "Govinda Icecream". He then selects "Govinda Icecream".

    That's all there is to it.

  • Sending and receiving mail

    Q:  I am getting harrassing emails occassionally from someone. Is it is possible to have a bar set up so that I don't get the emails from their particular address?

    A: 

    Do Commands > Trusted and distrusted persons > Add distrusted person

    Distrusted persons are not allowed to send mail to you. They will receive a delivery failure message saying "You are not in this user's list of allowed senders". You can also define yourself which error message they should receive in Commands > Trusted and distrusted persons > Change your refuse note

    Q:  I am getting so much spam nowadays. How did they get my address?

    A: 

    One reason why you might be receiving spam is that you have that e-mail address somewhere on a web page, and spam robots are collecting it from there. Remember that web pages are easily and totally accessible to everyone, including spammers.

    The best thing to do to prevent this, is to tell your webmaster to use some Javascript in the form instead of plain html. So, instead of simply writing

    <a href="mailto:john.brown@email.com"> john.brown@email.com</a>

    one writes:

    <script>
    document.write('<a href="mailto:john.brown');
    document.write('@');
    document.write('email.com">john.brown');
    document.write('@');
    document.write('email.com<\/a>');
    </script>

    Of course, you need to use your own e-mail address instead of John Brown's.

    Note however that if your address has already been picked up by such a spam robot, it will be sold on along with thousands of other e-mail addresses on CDs to whoever wants to send out spam mail (as you have noticed). And if you even replied that you want to be removed then it will even be confirmed as a real, working address where more spam can be sent.

    But at least you can prevent it from being picked up by even more spam robots.

    They also collect addresses from mailing lists and newsgroups, so you will also likely receive spam if you have posted messages there.


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