How do I set up Mailshell to stop spam?

Mailshell's major feature is our advanced spam filtering technology, which gives Premium users the ability to clean spam from any existing email address. (If you are a free trial user, this feature is available during the 30-day trial period after you first sign up.) To start right away, all you need to do is set up an account to be cleaned and choose your settings.

• First, set up an account in the Clean Existing Email section of Spam Filtering.



• Choose how you want to receive your email. If you want to continue using the service you're using now, we recommend that you set up another address with that service and forward your email there. (For instance, if you use AOL, you could set up another address for your account and forward the cleaned messages there so that you can continue using the setup you're familiar with.)



• If you want to change your Spam Catcher strength, you can do so from either the Spam Catcher Settings section of Spam Filtering or by using the Address Options for the address you are delivering cleaned messages to.



• Finally, start keeping a list of senders you trust by using your Address Book and Approved Senders list. (If you already have an address book, the easiest way is to simply import it to Mailshell.) These senders will never be filtered as junk, and by listing them you'll always get the messages you want right away.

Then, you can start taking advantage of Mailshell's additional spam-fighting options:

• If you received an @mailshell.com address when you signed up, give this address out instead of your existing one and choose your settings the same way you would to clean your existing email address. You can even forward messages to your existing address so you still get all your email in the same place.



• Start giving out disposable email addresses so you'll know who gave your address away and be able to block spam easily without affecting all of your email.



• Block individual senders who are sending you unwanted email.



• Use custom email filters to automatically organize your messages.



• Sign up anonymously for newsletters, services, and other offers using Mailshell's Special Offers Directory.

Can I use Mailshell to stop spam coming to my current email address?

Yes! Premium users have the option of cleaning spam from up to three other email accounts by retrieving and filtering messages at Mailshell: click here to learn how to set this up.

If you have the free trial service, this feature is available during the 30-day trial period after you first sign up. Once that period has expired, you can upgrade to the Premium Service to continue using it.

If you don't want to retrieve messages or if your free trial period has expired, you can also try to forward your current email address to Mailshell--many ISPs and email services let you forward email to a different address or to set up a filter that will forward, although some do not. For example, if you want to forward your Yahoo! email you could create a yahoo@your-name.com disposable address, then set your Yahoo! email to forward to that address. Use the Address Options for yahoo@your-name.com to set the Spam Catcher strength and other settings to whatever you like. You will now receive all of your Yahoo! email at Mailshell and have all the benefits of Mailshell filtering. (If you do decide to do this, note that you should also add the address you're forwarding from to your Approved Senders list. Because the Spam Catcher normally penalizes messages that aren't addressed directly to the Mailshell address that receives them, messages that are simply auto-forwarded are more likely to be filtered out as spam even if they aren't. By adding the address you're forwarding to this list, the Spam Catcher won't apply that penalty and will be able to assess the messages more accurately.)

Can I use Mailshell to stop unwanted pornographic images?

Yes! If you're a Premium users, you can use the Virus Protection setting to protect you from email-borne viruses, tracking devices, unwanted images, and other security problems. When this feature is turned on, Mailshell will remove all images, attachments, java, and javascript from messages you receive through Mailshell. (If you are concerned about missing important parts of messages, you can also save a copy of the full, unaltered message.)

You can change this setting for individual disposable addresses by using Address Options. You can also reset all of your settings or just the default setting for newly created and pending addresses in the Spam Catcher Settings section of Spam Filtering.

If you have the free trial service, this feature is available during the 30-day trial period after you first sign up. Once that period has expired, you can upgrade to the Premium Service to continue using it.