Email Hosting By 4SecureMail - Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

How much does the service cost?
There is no "lite" version of our service, so all users get a 100% full strength solution. Family plans are as low as $1.39 per month per user. Business plans go down to as low as $.42 per month per user. For a single user, the cost is $3.39 per month. All accounts are paid quarterly or annually.

What do I have to download or install to use the service?
Nothing at all. No downloads, no plug-ins, nothing to install.

What is your policy about sharing customers email addresses?
We do not rent, sell or share clients' addresses with anyone. Please read our Privacy Policy.

How do I know 4SecureMail email hosting will work with my PC or my current email software?
It works with all popular systems (and some you have never heard of) that have been released this century (and quite a few from the last century). Please see the list of compatible operating systems and email software clients.

My ISP blocks sending email through remote servers. Will I be able to use 4SecureMail?
Yes. ISPs that block 3rd party SMTP servers almost always block port 25. Our system does not use port 25. If this becomes a problem, contact support for an alternate solution. We don’t publish the details of that stuff online.

I need to send large email attachments. Do you have any size limits?
Yes, you can send messages with large attachments, up to 20 MB. There is not pre-set limit on receiving attachments.

How do I manage my 4SecureMail secure email account(s)?
We provide an email account administration control panel that lets you completely manage all of the user-level functions of your email account. For business customers (or Family Plans), we provide a master email hosting control panel that lets you create, delete, define and manage user email accounts while allowing each individual user to manage all of their own user-level functions.

Do you keep usage logs?
We do not record or log customer or usage data other than what is required for performance and security monitoring of our servers. The minimal information that is logged is deleted as soon as it is no longer needed for these purposes.

How does the security work?
Each time a user logs in to their account on our email server using either POP or Webmail, a SSL session is initiated before any login or password information is exchanged and well before any data is transmitted. The SSL session uses the same security used by banks, credit card companies, PayPal, etc. to make sure online credit card transactions are secure. Our SSL is provided by VeriSign, the world SSL leader, using RSA-powered TLS (Transport Layer Security).

How does the spam filter work?
It incredible! First it checks multiple ORBs databases to see if the sender is known as a spammer, or if the mail is coming from an email server that is either a known spam server or a machine that is not properly secured to prevent spam. Then it processes incoming messages through the powerful Spam Assassin system. As a third step, messages are challenged by the Friends system, giving senders of suspected spam an opportunity to prove their message is not spam. Using a combination of these systems allows a user to actually stop 100% of spam without false positives.

How does the virus protection work?
We use a powerful server-based system provided by Avast. This system is certified by ICSA, the same certification authority that approves systems for MacAfee, Norton and a few other major players. Only trust ICSA-Certified virus scan systems. The system is installed on our email servers, so users don’t have to worry with administration or updates.

Is the service anonymous?
It is very private, and if needed, it can be anonymous as well. Use the Webmail feature for this, we never forward IP information with Webmail so it is not possible for anyone to determine the senders location. And, only a court order can obtain information about who owns an account. If you wish to register your account with us anonymously, that’s OK but it makes sign-up a little more complicated so contact our support department if this is your requirement. No court can order us to provide what we don’t have. We don’t keep copies of email, or a listing of to whom users have sent email, or have received email from.

Do you have resellers?
We have an affiliate program that will reward you for referring customers to us.

Where are 4SecureMail email hosting services available?
4SecureMail secure email hosting services are available worldwide to holders of major credit cards, however only U.S. currency is supported at this time. Customers without credit cards can be supported via wire transfer.

Where are the 4SecureMail email servers located?
The 4SecureMail email servers are located in a secure data center in Dulles, Virginia, USA.


If I am using a free anonymous email like Yahoo, Hotmail etc., why would I need to pay for an account?
First, these accounts are not anonymous. The IP address of the sender is visible to the recipient with just 2 mouse clicks. In fact, their user and email information is logged and stored and is occasionally made available to others via court order or may be obtainable via pretext. The fact that the information exists in the first place is insecure. And, because there is no encryption, local snoops could read your sent/received emails, as well as learn your passwords.

What is secure Webmail?
Secure Webmail uses a browser, like FireFox or MS Internet Explorer to access an email account through a web site operated by the email provider. A secure Webmail account is a Webmail account that uses SSL security to protect the messages from 3rd party monitoring.

What is secure POP and SMTP email?
This is email that is transported using SSL encryption between the email server and the email client. If both clients (the sender and the receiver) are both users of the secure email server, the message is fully secure end to end. Even if the “other end” of the connection is not secure, the secure email user is still protected from local snooping, sniffing or monitoring that can occur within the local network, by government agencies, at the ISP or at routers along the way.

Why does a user need SSL encryption?
Same reason that websites accepting MasterCard and VISA use it. SSL transport prevents snoops from seeing the message headers (From, To, Subject fields) and prevents message content interception on the way to/from the mail server while sending/receiving email. This part of the route is most critical for compromising the email privacy of a sender since local authorities like ISP/company staff, hackers or government agencies can most easily monitor it.

Does 4SecureMail hide the senders IP address?
Yes, your IP address will be hidden for email messages sent through our mail server via Webmail. POP/SMTP always displays IP addresses.

Why is it important to hide the IP address?
The IP address can be used to ascertain the identity of a particular user who was connected to a particular ISP at a given moment in time. ISPs typically log and store this information and may provide the identity of the user subject to a simple subpoena. So whoever you use to connect to the internet knows who-was-using-that-IP-at-that-particular-time. If you hide your IP, you are hidden. The 4SecureMail Webmail feature always hides the IP.

What if I use PGP or S/MIME for email encryption?
4SecureMail supports and supplements PGP or S/MIME encryption. Even if you encrypt email messages with PGP or S/MIME, the message headers still remain open. "To:", "From:", "Subject:" etc. header fields may disclose your identity, IP address etc. and contain confidential information. Using a 4SecureMail encrypted tunnel to transport these messages creates an even higher level of security.

Do you allow bulk mailing, or the sending of UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email – Spam)?
Absolutely not. If you try it, we will use every means at our disposal to prosecute you, or help your victims prosecute you. At the very least, we will disable your account with no refund. Note that our privacy policy offers no protection to spammers. Our servers are set up to flag or even disable any customers account with usage that indicates a pattern of spamming. We also react immediately to any complaints that are filed with us.

Why do I need to use 4SecureMail?
4SecureMail protects your emails. If you are the boss, it protects you from nosey or vindictive employees. If you are an employee, it protects you from your nosey boss or co-workers. It also protects your entire company from lawsuits, competitors, bad press and a host of other problems that can occur when email is not secured. Plus it will stop spam or virus at the email server, so you don’t have to deal with it.

Does your email server have any email antivirus protection installed?
Yes. All inbound and outbound emails are scanned for Virus by an ICSA-Certified virus scanner that runs on the mail server.

Does your system protect me from Spam?
Yes, and in a big way. We use all of the standard ISP-grade solutions like ORBs, SpamAssasin etc. added to and layered on top of our Friends system, which is a challenge/response “white list” service. It is possible to stop ALL spam with our system, without incurring false positives.

I have my own domain/website hosted with a hosting company/ISP. How will this be handled if I sign up with you for secure email?
Nothing will change about the way your existing website or domain is handled. We have a lot of experience with this, because all of our business customers use their own domain name. For all email domains, there is a DNS entry that tells the world where your email account is located, for example http://mail.yourdomain.com. A simple MX (Mail Exchange) record update is all that is needed. Your website can continue to be hosted where it is now, or be moved to another location. We are secure email specialists, and we don’t do website hosting because it is not our specialty. And likewise, most hosting companies don’t specialize in secure email. Think about it - would you go to a brain surgeon for a heart transplant?

If I don’t have my own domain, can you help us get one?
Again, we are email specialists and keep our focus on providing bullet-proof email solutions. Get a list of providers here.

What happens during the time while may email domain is being moved, will I lose any emails?
Excellent question. We employ a special Migration System that manages the process by checking your email at both locations until the cutover is complete, and consolidating all emails in the new location. Very few email providers can offer a migration service, so many times a user’s email is lost when moving email accounts because this type of precaution is not taken. We are specialists at this, and we won’t lose any of your emails.

Do I need any special skills or training to manage our 4SecureMail secure email accounts?
Not at all, it is a very simple and intuitive interface. Plus, you can contact technical support with any questions.

How do I pay for 4SecureMail secure email hosting service?
We accept credit cards online for all transactions, which must be paid in advance. You may also wire transfer payment to our account. Please contact us in advance of any wire transfer.

Who is 4SecureMail LLC?
4SecureMail LLC is located in Norfolk, Virginia. 4SecureMail is a secure email hosting company, privately and locally owned by retired ISP industry veterans.

If I still have questions, what should I do?
You have several choices. You can review email configuration and help files here, or you can ask any questions by contacting us here.