SpamCop Forum FAQ, work in progress Options

[Wazoo]

Note: this Forum FAQ deals with questions about how to use the SpamCop Forum. Please see the SpamCop FAQ or the SC Wiki for questions about the various SpamCop tools including Email, Reporting, Blocking List Service, etc.

Important notice: On 5-12-06 this forum was upgraded from version 2.0.4 to 2.1.6
It was later upgraded to 2.1.7 and currently developement work is being done to upgrade to 2.2.2,2.3.1, possibly 3.0.x
The following FAQ requires some updating as well to reflect the changes caused by the upgrade.
Please bear with us as we work on updating the varrious entries.

Table of Contents

How to use the SpamCop Forum

Pre-Registration

Registration

Maintaining & Updating Your Account

My Controls & Forum Settings

Login & Navigation

Troubleshooting & Quick Links/Shortcuts (under construction)

Change of Username

SpamCop's System & Active Staff User Guide

Forum Section - How to use the SpamCop Forum

Archive of development posts used to create this FAQ

If you can not find what you are looking for in this FAQ regarding how to use the SpamCop Forum, then there is also the How to use .... Instructions, Tutorials Subforums and under that the SpamCop Forum sub forum. If that fails to help, you can always post your question.


SECTION 1 - Pre-Registration

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

New Account / Signing Up

This is a support area for the tools provided by the SpamCop.net system. However, it is not physically connected to any of those tools, such that even if you have a SpamCop reporting account or a SpamCop Filtered E-Mail account, use of this Forum requires its own login details.

Q. What are the Benefits to Registering on the SpamCop forums?
A. To be able to use all the features on this board, we require that you register for a member account.
Registration is free and only takes a moment to complete.

Benefits of Registration
Once you have registered and logged in, you will have access to your private messenger and your control panel.
You are able to actively participate in our large & popular community forums.
You can make & reply to topics and polls.
You can SEARCH SpamCop Forums and newsgroups.
You can EMAIL members via forum
There are also Registered-Only forums which you can only access when you sign up

Q. How do I sign up for a account?
A. To register click >>HERE<<

Q. How old do I have to be to sign up for SpamCop?
A. You may be any age, but SpamCop is rated PG13. If you are under 13 you must sign up under a COPPA Agreement, which is signed & approved by your Parent(s)/Guardian

Q. What is COPPA Registration?
A. All users under the age of 13 must seek permission from a parent or guardian before you may participate on SpamCop forums. You can to start the registration process prior to us receiving a permission form, please click the continue link below. However, please note that you will not be able to complete your registration until we have the signed form.

Notes:
-Any member that has not signed a COPPA Registration (signed up as a normal member) and is found to be under 13 will/may have their account blocked/suspended/deleted until a permission form has been signed by your Parent/Guardian.

-When you sign up you must use a VALID email, otherwise you will not receive your Email Confirmation and will be unable to complete the registration process.

-Please do NOT use your e-mail address as a "user/display" name.
Edit: Code was touched 1Oct2005 that may actually interfere with an attempt such as this, replacing the @ character with the [at] string ....
Edit: seen from a user registering in 2Oct2005, this modification appears to have no effect on someone using their e-mail address as a "user/display" name ...

[Wazoo]

SECTION 3 - Maintaining & Updating Your Account

Logged in as: Your_Member_Name (Log Out)

Your Account

Q. Am I allowed more than one account?
A. SpamCop Forum members are only permitted ONE member account. If you have more than one account, contact a SpamCop Forum Admin immediately to rectify the situation. It is in your interests to let us know as anyone found to have more than one account may have the account(s) blocked or deleted without notice.

Q. Can I change my forum nick-name? (account name)
A. Yes, but ONLY a SpamCop Forum Admin can change your nick-name. Please email or PM (private message) your request directly to them. (More on this topic later.)

Q. Can I delete my account?
A. Specific answer: no, a user can not delete his/her account. Administrative action can happen to a user account for several reasons, to include a user request. The account can be 'handled' in a few different ways, typically being moved into the Banned group so that it can't be used again ... but the posts, Topics, Discussions will generally remain in place, again, for the benefit of the next person that runs into the same 'problem' that caused you to register and post. The question is actually a bit confusing. This Forum is a support venue for use of the SpamCop.net toolset. The majority of the Forum is open to be "read" by any and all .. which includes the Forum itself, the single-page-access-expanded version of the SpamCop FAQ, the added Dictionary, the Glossary, the Wiki ..... in all likelihood, registering to get posting privileges may not be necessary at all, as any 'problem' you're having may already be addressed. Note that even if the account is 'handled' .... queries made, replies and answers provided become part of this public knowledgebase. Deletion of this data is extremely rare ... even the spam that manages to be posted gets moved to a non-public Forum section for data tracking.

Member Groups Explained

Q. What are the different types of "Member Groups" and what do they mean?
A. The "Member Groups" on the SpamCop Forum include:

• Guest - not logged in or just visiting
• Validating - submitted data for Registration, but not yet completed the Validation process
• Member - Logged-in Registered user
• Moderator - Has capability to manage/edit postings & Topics (more later)
• SpamCop Staff - Owners & paid staff of the SpamCop system parts
• Admin - BOFH of this Forum application
• Banned - Basically, Admin at work ... spammers, out-of-control users, etc.

Q. What are the Member Titles & how can I change mine?
A. The Default Member Titles are based on your post count. See Titles and Pips Chart below.

Q. What are the pips for and how many posts do I need to increase the amount of pips in my profile?
A. The pips give a simple graphical representation of your post count. It makes it easier to see who has posted alot in the forums. Be aware though, you shouldn't place any difference between members based on Post Counts or pips alone. See Requirement For Titles and Pips Chart below.

Note: Your Contribution to SpamCop's forum isn't based on a high post count or lots of pips. Regular and long term members base it solely on your conduct and the quaility of your posts. Placing posts just to increase post count is very much frowned on.

Current settings:

• Newbie ----------------> 0 - 9 posts ------------->
• Member ---------------> 10 - 99 posts ---------->
• Advanced Member --> 100 - 999 posts ------->
• Been There ----------> 1000 - 2999 posts ---->
• T-shirt wearing out -> 3000 - 4999 posts ---->
• What Life? -----------> 5000+ posts ---------->
  
  Some accounts have had their pips replaced with other images which visually represent their relationship with the fourm. They are:
  
  = members who have provided a significant number of helpful posts.
  
  = members who have committed to serve as moderators of the fourm.
  
  = members who are also employees of SpamCop, IronPort, or Cisco
  
  = administrator of the forum.

Change Password & Email Address

Q. How do I change/update my forum password?
A. To change your password: My Controls > Change Password

Q. I have forgotten my password. What do I do?
A. Security is a big feature on this board, and to that end, all passwords are encrypted when you register. This means that we cannot email your password to you as we hold no record of your 'encrypted' password. You can however reset your password. To do this, click on the Lost Password link.

• Step One: Enter your account username.
• Step Two: Email validating the request is sent to your registered email address.
• Step Three: Follow the instructions in the email.

Q. I received a Password recovery information in a SpamCop Forum email, but I didn't request it. What do I do and is my account safe?
A. If you did not request this password change, please IGNORE and DELETE the email immediately. Your password will stay the same. If it happens repeatedly and you require further help, you may make a topic in the SpamCop Lounge Forum area or send a PM to a SpamCop Forum Admin.

Q. How do I change my email address?
A. To change it, go to: My Controls > Change Email Address
NOTE: You will have to re-activate your account after changing your email address. An email will be sent to the email address you specify outlining what you need to do.

The action will log you out. It is strongly recommended that you reset your password before changing your email address if you are unable to remember your password.