Frequently asked questions

1.1 Isn't SpamDrain just another spam filter?

Short answer: No, SpamDrain is simpler, more intelligent and more accurate.

Long answer: SpamDrain requires no software installation, but stops the spam and viruses before they reach your computer. The messages are filtered when you collect your e-mail. Other solutions that claim to filter your e-mail before it reaches you are based on the mail being filtered before it is received by your e-mail provider. This requires the resetting of the MX records for incoming e-mail servers and will only work if you have your own domain (e.g. yourcompany.co.uk). So a lot of configuration and complication. With SpamDrain you will be up and running immediately.

SpamDrain also supports SMTP filtering. If you have your own domain SpamDrain can be set up to filter the e-mail before it is received by the e-mail servers handling incoming e-mail for your domain. As described above this requires the resetting of the MX records in the domain name system (DNS) for your domain.

The technology behind SpamDrain has been developed in-house by Trillian AB. Many other solutions are based on standard methods for filtering that do not adapt as quickly to the new methods employed by spammers. With the DrainNow technology, the protection is always updated and automatically adapts through intelligent learning.

Trillian, the company behind SpamDrain, specialises in the development of spam protection, which means that SpamDrain is always at the forefront when it comes to accuracy and reliability.

1.2 Do I need to install any software to use SpamDrain?

No. Instead you change a setting in your e-mail program, so that you collect your e-mail via a protected SpamDrain server. It filters your e-mail and archives items that are judged to be spam and viruses.

If SpamDrain filters all e-mail for your domain (SMTP filtering) the e-mail will be filtered before it reaches the e-mail servers handling incoming e-mail for your domain. In this case nothing has to be changed in your e-mail program.

1.3 Do I need to have my own e-mail server to use SpamDrain?

No. The only requirement is that you currently retrieve your e-mail via a POP3 or IMAP server or that you have your domain (e.g. yourcompany.co.uk).

1.4 Is my e-mail saved on SpamDrain's servers?

Only those e-mails that are judged to be viruses or spam are saved at SpamDrain for a limited period. For valid e-mail, only basic information such as subject, sender and date are saved. In other words, valid e-mails are never saved in their entirety.

1.5 Do I have to give you the password for my e-mail account?

No. If you use SpamDrain to filter a POP3 or IMAP account SpamDrain only requires information regarding your incoming e-mail server and your username. You enter the normal password for your e-mail account in your e-mail program.

If SpamDrain filters e-mail for your own domain (SMTP filtering) nothing has to be changed in your e-mail program.

1.6 Can I use SpamDrain for my mobile phone?

Yes. SpamDrain is completely independent of the device you use to read your e-mail. If you use SpamDrain to filter a POP3 or IMAP account the only requirement is that you can retrieve your e-mail via a POP3 or an IMAP server. If SpamDrain filters e-mail for your own domain (SMTP filtering) nothing has to be changed in your mobile phone's configuration. Check the manual for your mobile phone for more information about how to read e-mail on your mobile.

1.7 I currently use IMAP to read my e-mail. Can I still use SpamDrain?

Yes. SpamDrain has support for IMAP. Sign up as an ordinary customer and add your e-mail account in order to filter your IMAP account.

1.8 I have my own domain and want to filter the e-mail before it reaches my domain. Can I still use SpamDrain?

Yes. SpamDrain supports domain level filtering (SMTP). Sign up as an ordinary customer and follow the instructions.

In order to filter your domain you must provide SpamDrain with some information about your domain. Furthermore, the MX records for the domain must be updated to point to SpamDrain's servers. Finally, you need to specify which addresses you want to filter and which addresses SpamDrain should forward to your domain but never filter.

1.9 How much does SpamDrain cost?

You can try out SpamDrain for 30 days free of charge. After this free trial period, the prices on the price page apply.

1.10 I already use a spam filter. Do I have to uninstall it to use SpamDrain?

You do not have to uninstall or deactivate your existing spam filter. However, we recommend that you do, as it is easier to keep track of which filter is being used. You will also only need to train up one filter. SpamDrain filters your e-mail before it reaches your computer, which is why you do not need any other spam protection.

1.11 Can I use SpamDrain if I have an e-mail address with Hotmail, Yahoo, MSN or some other free service that only has web mail?

The simple answer is no. You can only use SpamDrain if you can retrieve your mail from a POP3 or an IMAP server, which these services do not normally support. However, some of these mail providers offer the possibility to collect your mail with an e-mail program and the POP3 or IMAP protocol. In that case it is no problem to use SpamDrain. Examples of this include the pay versions of Yahoo Mail and GMail. Note that in this case SpamDrain only filters your mail when you retrieve it via your e-mail program, and not when you check your mail directly on the provider's webmail service.

2.1 How do I become a customer?

Click here and follow the instructions .

2.3 I have registered but not received an activation code. What should I do?

First check that you have entered the correct e-mail address. It sometimes takes a little longer for an e-mail to come through. If you suspect something has gone wrong, try registering again or contact us .

2.4 I have received my activation e-mail but cannot activate. What's wrong?

Make sure you have used the link in the activation e-mail. The activation code is only valid for 24 hours. If more than 24 hours have passed, you must request a new code. You will find instructions for this on the page that is displayed when you click on the link in the activation e-mail.

2.5 I have activated and set up a POP3 or IMAP account with SpamDrain, but I can't log in with my e-mail program and collect mail. What's wrong?

The most common reason for not being able to log in with your e-mail program is that you have entered the wrong username when you set up the e-mail account with SpamDrain. To put it simply:

• With SpamDrain you enter the details you have received from your e-mail provider (apart from the password).
• In your e-mail program you enter the details you receive from SpamDrain when you set up an e-mail account.

Go to e-mail accounts to see which settings you should adjust in your e-mail program.

Also check that you are entering the right password in your e-mail program. This should be the password you currently use to collect your e-mail. Not the password you use to log into SpamDrain via the web.

Also look in our guides for help regarding how to retrieve existing details, as well as how to set up your e-mail program.

If you have to set up a new e-mail account in your e-mail program and do not know which details you should use, check in the documents you received from your e-mail provider. If you use SpamDrain for your e-mail address at work, talk to the systems administrator at your company.

2.6 I can't log in on www.spamdrain.net. What's wrong?

Check that cookies are switched on in your web browser. If you have forgotten your password, click on Forgotten your password? A new password will then be sent to you and the old one will become invalid.

2.7 I cannot send e-mail after I started using SpamDrain. What's wrong?

The most common cause of this problem is that your e-mail provider's server for outgoing e-mail requires your e-mail program to send a username and password when sending mail. Normally, the incoming and outgoing servers use the same username and password. Because of this the standard setting for popular e-mail program such as Outlook Express, Outlook and Incredimail is to use the same username and password for incoming and outgoing.

When using SpamDrain you change the username for the incoming server which means that your e-mail program will use the wrong username when sending e-mail to the outgoing server. The solution is the specify the username and password for outgoing e-mail separately in your e-mail program. Please follow the instructions below for the e-mail program you are using.

Outlook Express, Outlook 2000

• Select Tools -> Accounts... in the menu.
• Select the Mail tab, highlight your e-mail account and click Properties.
• Select the Servers tab.
• Verify that the My server requires authentication box is checked. If it isn't it most likely means that you are not experiencing the problem described above. In that case you need to contact your provider.
• Click Settings...
• Select Log on using and enter the log in details you have received from your e-mail provider. The box Log on using Secure Password Authentication should usually not be checked.
• Click OK, OK and Close.

Outlook XP/2002/2003

• Select Tools -> E-mail accounts... in the menu.
• Select View or change existing e-mail accounts and click Next.
• Highlight your e-mail account and click Change...
• Click More settings...
• Select the Outgoing Server tab.
• Verify that the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication box is checked. If it isn't it most likely means that you are not experiencing the problem described above. In that case you need to contact your provider.
• Select Log on using and enter the log in details you have received from your e-mail provider. The box Log on using Secure Password Authentication should usually not be checked.
• Click OK, Next and Finish.

Incredimail

• Select Tools -> Accounts... in the menu.
• Highlight your e-mail account and click Properties.
• Select the Servers tab.
• Verify that the My server requires authentication box is checked. If it isn't it most likely means that you are not experiencing the problem described above. In that case you need to contact your provider.
• Click More settings...
• Select Log on using and enter the log in details you have received from your e-mail provider. The box Log on using Secure Password Authentication should usually not be checked.
• Click OK, OK and Close.