FIRSTALERT! - UPDATE YOUR SPAM FILTER DYNAMICALLY

MailWasher Pro takes spam fighting a big step further with real-time filter updates via our unique FirstAlert! system, so you always have the latest and greatest protection from spammers!

Using the global reach of over 7 million MailWasher Pro users, spam fighters like you report spam to the FirstAlert! Operations Centre where unique spam signatures and rules are created.

When you check your email with MailWasher Pro, FirstAlert! trains the filters in MailWasher Pro against the latest spam threats so you're always up-to-date.

FirstAlert! not only provides real-time dynamic spam filter updates, but also removes known spam from your inbox, so you don't have to.

HOW DOES FIRSTALERT! WORK?

You can freely report spam to the FirstAlert! database where administrators verify the message is in fact spam. Unique spam signatures and rules are then created and added to the database. When you check your email in MailWasher® Pro, FirstAlert! dynamically trains your filters so you get the latest spam filtering capability. Known spam can be automatically eliminated or marked as such for your review.

• Two separate people verify the validity of an email message. You, the FirstAlert!™ subscriber report the email to the database and the FirstAlert!™ administrator who decides if the email is in fact spam and adds it to the database.

• A ranking system ensures the most commonly reported spam is inspected first. This technique overcomes one of the biggest problems with spam filters, which is that people report anything they have subscribed to and no longer want, as spam. Unfortunately this can block the same email for other subscribers. The use of a second person to verify which email is spam ensures that valid newsletters are not blocked for all other subscribers.

• Polymorphic spam or variations on the same spam message are detected and handled correctly. Spam senders employ tactics such as slightly altering each message they send either by changing a word or adding unique garbled letters to the message in an attempt to trick you. FirstAlert!™ detects if a message is similar to one already stored in the database.

• The database is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and subscribers interact with the database in real time. A worldwide community of MailWasher users constantly report new spam as it appears.

• A strict definition of spam is used to eliminate the bad email but not to impinge on personal choice categories.

• The database can be utilized by users of MailWasher Pro software and MailWasher Server software users, who subscribe to FirstAlert!™. FirstAlert!™ is also available to other vendors who use this facility.

• Peace-of-mind is assured for businesses and people who cannot afford to lose legitimate email, but wish to reduce the amount of time wasted and false positives identified through manually filtering their email or using rules-based filters.

• Businesses and educational institutes have the power to increase productiveness of employees and students by blocking inappropriate or non-work related material to and from their users.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How does the FirstAlert!™ content filtration system affect the privacy of my messages? Before any messages can be submitted to the FirstAlert!™ database, they are first anonymized to remove any information that identifies you, the user to which they were sent.

• What do I need to use FirstAlert!™? In order to use the FirstAlert! content filtration system you must be a registered MailWasher Pro user.

• What about bandwidth? MailWasher Pro software sends the digital fingerprint or hash of the message to be checked, so the actual amount of data transmitted is very small.

• Do I have to pay to subscribe to FirstAlert!™? MailWasher Pro software users can subscribe to the FirstAlert!™ All MailWasher Pro software FirstAlert!™ users have the first 12 month subscription to the service included in the USD37.00 and thereafter it costs USD29.95 per annum. FirstAlert! is an add-on feature of MailWasher Server.

• Why should I pay to use this system when I am freely contributing to it? Like any service which adds value, there is a real cost to provide a useful cutting edge service.

24/7 access to a real-time spam database via high speed servers.
People monitor the messages so you don't miss out on important mail.
Customer support.

We continually develop FirstAlert!™ so that you get the best possible spam fighting service. FirstAlert!™ is a mechanism to bring concerned users, including yourself, together to help fight spam. When you report spam, you are helping other users of the Internet community.

• How do I subscribe to FirstAlert!™ Click here to register for FirstAlert!™.