A new system for email verification has come to my attention, and I thought maybe some of the email experts here would care to examine it and make comments. The URL is
GENERAL QUESTIONS Who is ICONIX, Inc.? What is Iconix eMail ID? What kind of icons will I see in my inbox? Do I have to pay to use Iconix eMail ID? What is phishing? What companies (senders) are currently identified by the Iconix solution? Will this change my current email solution or provider? Will you see my email? How can my business become a registered sender?
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS How does the Iconix solution work? Can Iconix eMail ID be spoofed? Tell me more about Sender ID. Tell me more about Domain Keys. What's the difference between this solution and a spam filter? How is this better than other email authentication solutions? Are messages without a Truemark icon suspicious? What if I don't see any Truemark icons in my inbox? What does it mean if I don't see a Truemark icon next to a message from a company that's on your list of identified senders? I have a question that isn't answered here, where do I go now?
DOWNLOAD & SETUP QUESTIONS
What are the system requirements for using Iconix eMail ID? Do I need to configure any settings? Does it work with my email program? How do I upgrade from an older version of Iconix eMail ID? How easy is Iconix eMail ID to install? How long will the download take? How do I uninstall Iconix eMail ID? I have a question that isn't answered here, where do I go now?
GENERAL QUESTIONS
- Who is ICONIX, Inc.?
ICONIX, Inc. provides email identity services that proactively combat email fraud spawned by phishing. The IconixSM solution that we offer uses icons to enable users to quickly and visually distinguish emails sent by identified senders.
- What is Iconix eMail ID? Iconix eMail ID is software that works in conjunction with your email program and confirms the source of an email message. Once confirmed, we make the message easy to identify by placing an icon next to it. If you ever wonder who is really sending you an email message; Iconix eMail ID helps solve that problem!
- What kind of icons will I see in my inbox? After Iconix eMail ID confirms the source of an email message, you will see a Truemark icon to represent that the message is real: A check lockTM icon represents identified senders.
Before displaying the icon, we perform an identification function in the background. Identified senders consist of more than 300 companies we have recognized as senders using publicly available information about the sender's domain and business (see the list). These senders represent many of the top online sites for retail, travel, auctions, banking, dating, etc.; and other companies that have enrolled with us.
- Do I have to pay to use Iconix eMail ID? No. It's FREE to consumers.
- What is phishing? Phishing is a form of email fraud where senders impersonate legitimate businesses and organizations to try and get you to divulge personal information like passwords, account numbers, etc. so they can steal your identity and/or funds from your account. These phishing messages are becoming more and more realistic-looking and phishers are not just targeting large financial institutions, but even smaller businesses and organizations.
- What companies (senders) are currently identified by the Iconix solution?
A list of identified senders can be found at
- Will this change my current email solution or provider?
No. You continue using the same email browser or client that you are using now. Your email experience will remain the same, except now you'll be able to see the Truemark icons, and when you mouse over the icon, a Truemark profile box will show you more details.
- Will you see my email?
No. Your email continues to travel the same path it always did. Your messages are NOT routed through us. The eMail ID software simply checks messages in the inbox to see if the sender is on our list of identified senders.
- How can my business become a registered sender?
Submit a request at our web site.
- I have a question that isn't answered here, where do I go now?
You can read more information and post questions in our user forum.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
- How does the Iconix solution work?
Iconix eMail ID confirms the source of email messages using industry-standard authentication technologies such as Sender ID and DomainKeys. After we get a positive result from these authentication checks, we check that result against a list of identified senders. This multi-step process is required to make sure we aren't adding a Truemark icon to a spoofed message.
- Can Iconix eMail ID be spoofed?
The Iconix solution couples our advanced technologies with authentication techniques such as Yahoo!'s Domain Keys and Microsoft's Sender ID to confirm the source of an email, and will support Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM), which is a joint effort between Cisco and Yahoo!, as it is adopted in the industry. This combined solution makes it very difficult for bad guys to spoof the identity of emails with an Iconix Truemark icon. Not impossible, just very difficult.
- Tell me more about Sender ID
Sender ID records tell the world what IP address(es) senders use to send mail. When receiving a message from that IP address, this record can be checked to make sure the sender's email address isn't being spoofed. To learn more about Sender ID see our web site.
- Tell me more about Domain Keys
Domain Keys is a technology that gives email providers a mechanism for verifying both the domain of each email sender and the integrity of the messages sent (i.e,. that they were not altered during transit). And, once the domain can be verified, it can be compared to the domain used by the sender in the From: field of the message to detect forgeries. If it's a forgery, then it's spam or fraud, and it can be dropped without impact to the user. If it's not a forgery, then the domain is known, and we can check that domain name against our list of identified senders. To learn more about Domain Keys see our web site.
- What's the difference between this solution and a spam filter? Spam filters are like a net that stop emails by using suspect words, characters, etc. Iconix eMail ID doesn't filter or prevent email messages from coming in, we just help you identify senders quickly and easily.
- How is this better than other email authentication solutions? The Iconix solution uses a two-step process. Normal authentication solutions will verify that a domain is a valid domain, but that domain could still be owned by a fraudulent person. The second step in our process verifies the identity of the sender themselves to ensure the message is truly from them.
- Are messages without a Truemark icon suspicious?
Messages without a Truemark icon should be treated with the same caution you use now to open messages. It may mean that the sender does not send authenticated mail or that they are not currently an identified sender in the Truemark service. It does _NOT_ absolutely mean it is spam or a scam. You treat that mail according to your procedures for other email received.
- What if I don't see any Truemark icons in my inbox?
You probably have not received messages from any Iconix identified senders yet. To check whether the Iconix eMail ID software is operational, look for an 'Iconix enabled' logo on your email screen. You can also use the self test button at our support page to send yourself a message to see if our logo appears next to our email in your inbox.
- What does it mean if I don't see a Truemark icon next to a message from a company that's on your list of identified senders?
There are three reasons this may occur: Companies send email from many different addresses and domains. In some cases, they authenticate email sent from some addresses and not from others, and we can only display a Truemark icon for authenticated addresses that are on our list. To submit the sender's email address so that we can inform the company and update our list with additional authenticated addresses, click where requested on our web site.
This message may have been forwarded before arriving in your inbox. In some cases, the email authentication cannot be verified if the message is forwarded, so even though the message may be real, we cannot mark it as such. Or -- This message may be a spoof. Use the same caution you use on any unmarked email when dealing with this message. Your judgment and caution is the solution.
- I have a question that isn't answered here, where do I go now? You can read more information and post questions in our user forum.
DOWNLOAD & SETUP QUESTIONS
- What are the system requirements for using Iconix eMail ID? Iconix eMail ID works with Internet Explorer 5.0+, Internet Explorer
7BETA 2, Mozilla Firefox and Windows XP/2000. We will be supporting Macintosh and SafariTM in the near future. Chck our website to see when new versions are available.- Do I need to configure any settings? No, just download and follow the prompts. After you have downloaded, continue sending and reading email as you normally do; if we identify messages from one of our identified senders you will see the Truemark icon.
- Does it work with my email program? We currently support Microsoft Outlook Express, MSN Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail and many more. Check our website to see the entire list. You can also sign up to be notified when we add support for new email programs.
- How do I upgrade from an older version of Iconix eMail ID? When it comes to email safety, updates are important so Iconix eMail ID updates itself automatically. You can check for updates manually in Internet Explorer by going to Tools>Iconix Preferences>Check for updates
- How easy is Iconix eMail ID to install? Installation is a snap! Click here to go to the download page. Click Run or Save in the new window that appears. The download will start. You will be asked to allow automatic updates, click 'I Agree' to continue. During the installation you will be asked to close your internet browser to complete the install, click yes. Next screen will show that you are finished. Congratulations! If you don't already see Truemark icons in your inbox, you can send yourself a test message here.
- How long will the download take?
If you're on a high speed connection, it's very quick. If you're on dial-up, it's probably about a 4 minute download.
- How do I uninstall Iconix eMail ID? You can easily uninstall Iconix eMail ID by going to: Start > Programs > Iconix > Uninstall Iconix eMail ID
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You can find out more about this sender-ID for email at