Microwerx does not block any email to your mail domain. The Internet is flooded with soliciting E-mail messages distributed to millions of E-mail addresses. These messages are known as "spam". Spammers fill your mailboxes with a huge amount of unwanted messages, not only overloading the Internet and your Server resources, but making mail retrieval very slow and difficult for you. To prevent unauthorized spam Microwerx employs the five following methods to filter offending email:

  1. Blacklisted IP Addresses
  2. DNS-based Blacklisting (Realtime Blackhole List - RBL)
    • MAPS DNS-based RBL
    • relays.ordb.org
    • bl.spamcop.net
  3. Blacklisting IP Domains
  4. Banned Header Lines
  5. Banned Body Lines

These methods nearly eliminate all spam flowing to you. The black-hole account in your mail domain is where our messaging system delivers spam identified (unsolicited) email. Acceptable client email may find its' way into this account if the sending host has been blacklisted by multiple RBLs. This is somewhat common in nature.

If you receive spam outside of the black-hole account, copy the full headers, and paste that information which includes the sending IP address, into a forwarded copy of the original email and send it to:

If you receive good client email in the black-hole account, copy the full headers, paste that information which includes the sending IP address back into a forwarded copy of the original email and send it to:

How do you obtain the full headers?

Outlook Express
To get the header information that 'came' with the email, highlight the email in the box and 'right click' on it. Down at the bottom of that popup menu, left click on "Options". This displays the 'full header information' with the IP number and other information needed.

Eudora
In Eudora in order to display full headers you first double-click on the message in question so that it opens. When you do this, it presents the body of the message with an editable subject bar at the top. Left of the subject bar are four action buttons. Place your mouse arrow over the third button (from left to right), and it presents to you the phrase...."Show All Headers." Click on it and the regular header at the top of your message window below expands into the full header.

No Spam Policy: Microwerx's Acceptable Use Policy on UCE (Unsolicited Commerce Email)

Background
We at Microwerx do not like spam! Accordingly, we added anti-spamming software to our server to eliminate it, and we enabled that capability to our clients. Personally and as a corporate entity we have an no tolerance philosophy with respect to spam. This expanded UCE section intends to reflect that philosophy and to aid our clients in complying to protect themselves, our other clients, Microwerx, and Internet users at large.Our clients are expected to have an understanding of what constitutes spam. If they do not, they are expected to research the topic on line. A good starting place is http://spam.abuse.net/. Please contact us if you have any questions before embarking on an email advertising campaign. Violators of this philosophy will be treated harshly.

Policy Guidance
Spamming, the sending of mass unsolicited email from or through a Microwerx server or using an email address that is maintained on a Microwerx machine, is STRICTLY prohibited. Clients are also in violation of this provision if they engage in spamming using the service of another ISP or IPP, but reference in the spam a Web site hosted on a Microwerx server or Microwerx email address, or if they sell or distribute software on their web site that facilitates spamming. Violators will be assessed a minimum $200.00 fine and will face immediate suspension. Microwerx will be the sole arbiter as to what constitutes a violation of this provision.

Should Microwerx receive a spam complaint from a responsible reporting party, such as SpamCop.net, the site will be taken off line immediately. Otherwise, a notice is sent to the Webmaster of the domain giving 48 hours to respond with an explanation. If a response is received within 48 hours, an investigation of the incident begins. If no response is received, a non-refundable fine of $200 minimum is assessed and the site is taken off line until an acceptable response is received and the incident is cleared. The fine will not be refunded even if an acceptable response is received. Microwerx will not allow any single site to effect a blacklist of the Microwerx mail servers.

Important Note
Please keep in mind that "email is intended for 1:1 communication, not broadcast." Sending unsolicited mail messages, including the sending of "junk mail" or other advertising material, to individuals who did not specifically request such material, who were not previous customers of the Client or with whom the Client does not have an existing business relationship is spamming and is prohibited.

Verifiable Opt-In List
Proof that an email address did in fact opt-in can be a log excerpt or a copy of the returned, e-mailed confirmation. There must be proof of a two-way, secure confirmation. This must include IPs and datestamps for two stages - both a signup and a confirmation. Here are some links that will serve as a starting place if you want to send out the same email to a large number of addressees.
http://spam.abuse.net/faq/
http://spam.abuse.net/marketerhelp/
http://spamcop.net/fom-serve/cache/167.html