Service Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

Check here for previous updates.

24 June 2009

Some users may be experiencing a problem receiving incoming messages to their physmail.

The problem is caused by sudden bursts of SPAM which temporarily overload the servers causing messages to bounce back. The messages are not lost, but either wait in a queue to be sent again or a bounce back notification is sent to the sender.
 
We are aware of the problem and have processes implemented to keep it to a minimum.

23 June 2009

We are aware of a problem with ‘backscatter’, when users receive a message informing them that an email they did not send was unsuccessfully delivered to someone they do not know.

This is caused by SPAMers forging a sender address to send out SPAM. When the SPAM is blocked by the receiving server, it sends a failed delivery notification back to the email address the SPAMer was pretending to send from.

We are currently working on long term solutions to the problems caused by SPAM.

29 April 2009

Many users will have noticed that the number of junk emails delivered to their inboxes has increased over the last week or two.

We have settings in place which had been managing junk mail reasonably successfully until now. However the most recent problems have been caused by the Conficker worm (Conficker is the latest (and to date biggest) worm on the internet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker) and it has control of between 9 and 15 million computers which are now being used to send out spam.)

The attack surge comes and goes in waves and our system has adjusted appropriately, however as a result some mail is being “bounced” back to the sender but so long as the remote Mail Transfer Agents (MTA's) behave in accordance with standards then no email will be lost. The problems should only be temporary and the bounce back messages are simply the system saying "Sorry, we are too busy to handle your message" so the sender knows that they need to send the message again.

We hope to be able to handle these problems with less impact on users in the near future (at least until another worm comes along).

If you experience a problem which is not resolved by reference to the information available on this page please e-mail member.services@iop.org

If you find that a certificate error message appears when you try to access the PhysMail, please ensure that you are using the URL https://mail.physics.org/ (not https://newmail.physics.org).

The New version of PhysMail went live on 2 December 2006.

What do you need to know?

Accessing PhysMail via your member logged in page on the web

No change – log in as usual (http://members.iop.org/), select My PhysMail and click on LOG IN NOW

Accessing PhysMail directly via URL on the web

Use URL – https://mail.physics.org/

To use POP 3 or IMAP4 to transfer your messages to another e-mail client

Click here to download PhysMail Connection Information (amended 15 January 08) and adjust your e-mail client settings.

Further information:

PhysMail Connection Information (amended 15 January 08) (web mail, forgotten password, POP3, IMAP4, forwarding)

PhysMail Useful Information (amended 15 January 08) (passwords, appearance, address book, calendar, spam settings)

INFORMATION ABOUT PHISHING

What is it?

A type of e-mail in which the sender is pretending to be from a legitimate organisation, putting that organisation’s name in the ‘From’ field of the message, in an attempt to scam you in to replying to this e-mail and giving up personal information, such as bank/credit card details.

These e-mails are deceptive as the scammers often use logos and images from the legitimate companies, as well as frequently directing you to a spoof website to fill in your details.

What's more, the scammers use fear to try and get the details from you, saying, for example, that your account will be closed if you do not respond immediately.

What should I do? 

1. DO NOT click on the links within the e-mail.
2. Delete the message immediately.
3. If you feel that the e-mail may be genuine, log in to the company’s actual website, outside the e-mail, by typing in the correct URL address. Here you will be able to check your account details.

CONNECTION INFORMATION

To download information about how to access PhysMail via a POP3/IMAP mail client please click here
(amended 15 January 08)

For any queries regarding PhysMail please contact- member.services@iop.org

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