Home Tel. Co.

112 1st Ave. NW

Grand Meadow

MN, 55936

Office Numbers

507-754-5115 507-352-5115

Fax

507-754-5114

General and Tech Questions

E-mail:

support@hmtel.com

Management:

E-mail:

hometel@hmtel.com

Spam Filtering Customer FAQ

Unsolicited Internet e-mail (spam) and e-mail borne viruses have become a major headache for Internet users everywhere. We have found a solution. We have teamed up with Postini to filter your incoming e-mail for both spam and e-mail borne viruses. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions [“FAQs”] you will find helpful.

Logging in:

Once the Postini system becomes activated, you will receive an e-mail with instructions, you can log-in using this link: https://login.postini.com or use your current e-mail address and password to log-in at the same web site address.

Online Help:

Postini User Instructions can be found at this link: www.postini.com/help

Who is Postini?

Postini (www.postini.com) is a company that offers filtering of e-mail blocking spam and e-mail borne viruses. We have enlisted the help of Postini to do exactly that filter out spam and block viruses. While Postini won’t stop every piece of spam or e-mail virus (in fact, it is recommended that you frequently update your anti-virus software), we are confident in the system’s ability to keep your computing environment safer.

How does it work?

The Postini system scans e-mail before it reaches the mail servers. If the system detects a message is spam or an e-mail virus, the suspicious message is sent directly to the Postini Message Center. The Message Center, which you will have access too, is Web-based and password protected.

All e-mail processing is done behind the scenes before it arrives in your inbox. This saves you time by not having to download unwanted e-mail (spam). This requires no modifications to your existing e-mail services or e-mail client.

Postini is able to analyze all text and HTML parts of each message before allowing the e-mail through to you. Despite these advanced measures, some legitimate e-mail may be caught and not passed on to you. Postini will keep e-mail messages that have been directed to the Message Center, for 14 days following the receipt of the message, allowing you to review these messages. After 14 days from receipt, any messages will be deleted. We recommend that you check the Message Center frequently to ensure your personal settings are appropriate and check for legitimate messages that may have been filtered out.

What is the interface like?

To check messages sent to the Message Center or alter your settings, you will need to log in to the system. https://login.postini.com Within the Message Center you will be able to review the messages that Postini identified as suspicious. The Message center is a Web-based application where you will find all Postini service settings and messages. Your filtering settings can be easily changed to accommodate your unique needs and habits. From your Postini Message Center you can read the e-mail online, delete it, or deliver it to your regular mailbox.

How do I log in?

Once your account is activated you will receive an “Activation Message” containing log-in instructions with password details. You can also use your current e-mail address and password to log in. You will also receive e-mail notifications when suspicious messages have been directed to your Message Center. We still recommend you check your Message Center often whether you receive a notification e-mail or not.

Why do I need to enable cookies when logging into my Message Center?

The main purpose of cookies is to identify you as a unique Postini services end user and prepare Web pages that reflect your personalized Postini applications. Some information, such as your log-in e-mail address, is packaged into a cookie and sent to your Web Browser which stores it for later use; for example, the next time you log-in, your browser will send the cookie to Postini so that only your password is required, saving you time. Postini does not track any personal information in its cookies or request any personal information through the Message Center, cookies are simply used to ensure you are in control of your e-mail.

What browsers does Postini support?

Postini supports version 4 (v4) and above of Netscape and Internet Explorer.

How much does this cost?

We are providing this service free to anyone who has a mailbox on our mail server as part of our continued commitment to bring you the best Internet service available.

What if I don’t want my e-mail filtered?

Postini is user configurable, allowing you to simply turn the filtering off. By default, the service is turned OFF until you log-in and turn it on.

How does Postini detect e-mail borne viruses?

Postini virus protection updates virus definitions continuously. Your messages are scanned for viruses behind the scenes. You are only notified via e-mail when a virus is found in a message. You can safely review the infected e-mail from your Message Center.

How does Postini handle security?

Postini takes security and privacy of user data seriously.

• Legitimate e-mail is not written to disk.
• Passwords are not stored and never transmitted in plain text.
• Suspicious e-mail directed to the Message Center is broken up before being written to disk, so only you can access it.
• Postini resources, apart from the web and e-mail processing machines, are not accessible through the public Internet.