A popular quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin that says, “When you are finished changing, you are finished,” makes me think of the changes I have seen during my career. Just when we get used to how things are, it is time to change yet again. When I first started working in the computer field, the Internet and email were only available to certain universities or through special dial-up services. Today, the Internet and email are a vital part of daily communication for many people. Since it is important, it is often the subject of attacks by criminals looking to exploit old programs.
We are excited to announce our new online email platform that will help meet your needs going forward. Our web platform at https://webmail.itctel.com will be receiving a significant upgrade over the coming months. The upgrade will include a new modern look and streamlined features. Still, the most significant changes will be under the hood, which consists of an extra layer of security for you with both reCAPTCHA and optional two-factor authentication.
Our goal is to make the change as simple for you as possible, and most users should have a seamless switchover. Your contacts and emails should migrate to the updated platform when you do. If you notice an issue during this switchover time, you should call the ITC help desk at 1.888.217.5718 for immediate assistance. The help desk is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When you first access the new webmail site, you will be greeted by the reCAPTCHA prompt. In addition to your username and password, you will need to click the “I’m not a robot” checkbox. This helps prevent spammers from taking over an account and sending their stuff as if it were coming from you. If the software is not sure if you are a human or not, it might ask you to click on pictures of cars or bicycles, which automated bots have a hard time guessing.
Once you are logged in, check out the Documentation link to see the features. Here, you will find information on setting up two-factor authentication. In the basic view, the Documentation link is in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. In the new elastic view, click mail and then the help button under mail. Clicking on first settings, next preferences, and finally, user interface gives you the ability to choose between the basic “Larry” interface and the modern “Elastic” interface.
The Email Filter link will take you directly to your familiar spam filter. The spam filter works the same as it always has, and your familiar “friends and enemies” lists will also be waiting for you.
You can help ensure the migration goes smoothly by ensuring your preferred web browser and other email software are up-to-date. You can also check your windows updates and make sure you have all the latest security fixes for your computer. Other than that, you should be all set.
Watch the webmail site for more details. If you are experiencing an issue during these updates, please give our Internet Help Desk a call at 1.888.217.5718.
– Michael Martinell, The Broadband Guy
New Webmail