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So you're interested in subscribing to KASINET's spam and virus filtered e-mail service for only $24/mailbox/year? Here's some information that other customers have found useful:
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a small piece of software (that is, program code) designed to wreak havoc on a computer, and spread to other computers. It is against the law to deliberately spread computer viruses, but tracking them to the originator is difficult, so prosecution is unlikely. There are now some tens of thousands of known viruses, and new ones being invented daily.
What happens if a virus infects my computer?
A virus, once resident on your computer, can do anything that you could, including deleting files, sending copies of itself to your friends, and stealing your identity by collecting private correspondence and financial information to be sent back to the source, and even installing additional viruses. In addition to this havoc, viruses change system settings to make it more difficult for you, the user, to reverse the damage. This means that a user wanting to clean up a virus is forced to either spend many hours learning about viruses, or hire the services of a professional computer expert, which can be quite expensive because the damage from a computer virus is so widespread.
Am I at risk?
Most viruses spread through email, although your computer can also be infected by running programs from malicious websites or infected computers on your local network with which you are sharing files. We strongly recommend that you do not download any software that is not written or distributed by a reputable company.
If your email software is not updated continually, some email viruses can run without any action on your part. Most viruses rely on deception, however; appearing to the user as an important document from a co-worker, or an amusing picture from a friend. Anyone sending or receiving email from an infected computer can have their email address stolen by the virus and used to trick other users. While the "helpful" features of the newer versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple OS try to make your life easier by installing programs automatically, in many cases this allows a virus to hide its true intent until it is too late.
How does a virus filter help? Why shouldn't I download cheap antivirus software from the Internet instead?
The best way to avoid the high costs of virus cleanup is to avoid being infected. Virus scanning software identifies viruses as they run, shutting them down and preventing further damage. However, many of the newer viruses will attack your antivirus software, destroying it before it has a chance to stop the virus.
KASINET virus filtering works through a completely different mechanism. Our servers remove nearly all viruses, trojans, worms, and other malicious software from your email before it reaches your computer. This prevents overzealous email software from installing the virus automatically, and saves you the time of downloading virus-laden email and then deleting it.
What is spam?
Spam is any large quantity of undesired email. It takes its name from the Monty Python skit, "SPAM", in which characters sing about the lunchmeat so loudly that the narrator can no longer be heard. In much the same way, computer spam fills your Inbox so that finding your important messages becomes like finding a needle in a haystack. Most spam is unsolicited commercial email, or advertising, which not only wastes your time downloading and deleting it, but often contains content that is downright repulsive. Of course, spam also includes unwanted but otherwise harmless messages including the ones from the town gossip who insists on telling the whole world about the words her grandson misspelled on his most recent spelling test, or the chain letters from the person who actually believes he has to forward every message he receives to avoid bad fortune.
KASINET email filtering, while not 100% effective at identifying spam, removes tremendous amounts of spam (98%+) so that you can concentrate your time on reading the important messages.
What does KASINET do to help?
While some Internet providers are just as happy allowing viruses to spread and ensuring future repair fees, KASINET fully supports the preventative approach. We think you'll love our virus and spam removal software, because it saves you so much time wading through your Inbox for the important messages (our system is removing over 30 messages per user per day on average, and more spam types are being identified continually). Since the messages are removed before they reach your computer, you don't waste time downloading and deleting them. You also get peace-of-mind knowing that the antiviral software is updated daily to remove brand new viruses.
How do I know that KASINET isn't blocking my legitimate e-mail?
For your peace of mind, KASINET sends out a daily Quarantine report showing details of all blocked e-mails. With just one click, you can release any e-mail from the quarantine, viruses and forbidden attachments (which probably contain a virus) excepted.
How can I protect myself against viruses? How much does it cost me?
For $2/month, KASINET will filter your email against both viruses and spam. Our antivirus system has been in place for over two years now, and during that time not a single subscriber was infected by a virus received through KASINET email. Upon installation the service also quickly identified several users who were already infected and were sending virus-laden email throughout the Internet without even knowing they were infected.
Our software removes viruses from the email you send as well as what you receive, helping to prevent the nightmare scenario in which not only is your computer infected, but causes a major infection in another network which is traced back to your computer and for which you might be held responsible.
Why is there a recurring fee for this service, when antivirus software is sold?
If you buy antivirus software for a one-time fee, you can use the software forever, but it won't be able to recognize new viruses. All mainstream anti-virus companies charge for the updates (some include a one-year subscription with purchase). The company who sells the professional antivirus package we use also charges us for updates, so we charge our users a subscription fee as well.
We think you'll find that you save enough time each morning by not even seeing the spam messages to make the $2/month worthwhile. Plus, you won't be risking a virus infection for which cleanup would run into the hundreds, perhaps even thousands of dollars. Buying your own antivirus software easily costs more than $24/year, and rapidly becomes ineffective if you forget to download the updates.
Hotmail is free, and it has antivirus and spam filtering. Why should I pay?
Hotmail pays for itself somehow. Do you really want your private/confidential correspondence stored on Microsoft's servers where they can read and even auction your private data to the highest bidder?
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