About the FAQ

The below content is intended to be a helpful guide to BearMail at the University of Northern Colorado. 

The links are provided for ease of moving through the document to quickly access the information.

 

How do I log into BearMail?

The website used to access BearMail is http://bears.unco.edu.  The login ID is your Personal Digital Identity (PDID), followed by @bears.unco.edu (such as smit1234@bears.unco.edu).  The password is the same password used to access Ursa, Blackboard, etc.  Click here for more information.

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Can I access BearMail through Ursa?

Yes.

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Can I automatically forward e-mails from BearMail to a different e-mail address?

The function of forwarding e-mails is not available in the BearMail system.  However, BearMail will function with other programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and MacMail.  Specifics on how to setup these programs can be found in the Support U article "Can I use e-mail software in conjunction with BearMail?", and additional support is available through the Technical Support Center (351-HELP, or at http://www.unco.edu/it/supportu.htm).

Experience has shown that e-mail messages automatically forwarded from BearMail to students’ accounts at Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail and other third-party providers frequently are blocked by spam filters and students never see the messages. Additionally, e-mail will be one of several methods used to communicate critical information to members of the campus community in the event of a major emergency.  Keeping e-mails within UNC’s communication infrastructure greatly reduces the risk of students not receiving important information on topics ranging from the availability of electronic monthly bills and financial aid, to class cancellations and changes in assignments.

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What are the size limitations, and will I be warned when I am over limits?

You will still receive warnings when your account approaches its maximum quota, but because the quota will be significantly larger than it is in the current BearMail, you won’t receive warnings nearly as often.  The mailbox is allotted 10 GB of storage!  An easy way to manage this storage is to use BearDrive for all large file attachments.  To see more details about BearDrive, be sure to check out the BearDrive articles under BearDrive Support.

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Can I change my password through the BearMail system?

There is no function currently in place to process password changes in the BearMail system. Any link referring to changing a password does not currently function with the UNC network.  Please utilize Ursa for any login authentication modifications (details are found at http://www.unco.edu/it/supportu.htm, under Ursa Support/General Ursa Support, using Ursa Maintenance documentation and others as needed).

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How long will deleted items be retained before being removed from BearMail?

The deleted item retention period will be 14 days.  After that date the deleted items will not be recoverable.

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What is Spamming?

Spamming is sending out mass amounts of unsolicited email.  Spamming using UNC email accounts is against UNC's Email Procedures and repeated instances by a user will result in cancellation of their account.    

Additional unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to:

  • Using email for any purpose which violates federal or state laws.
  • Using email for commercial purposes.
  • Misrepresenting your identity or affiliation in email communication.
  • Sending harassing, intimidating, abusive or offensive material.
  • Using someone else's identity and password.
  • Causing congestion on the network by such things as the propagation of "chain letters," broadcasting inappropriate messages to lists or individuals, or excessive use of the shared data store of the email post office.

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What is Phishing?

Phishing is the act of attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive personal information such as passwords and credit card details via deception by sending emails to potential victims that masquerade as being from an official-looking entity like a Bank or Credit Card provider.

Some of the latest Phishing scams to hit UNC have been:

Bank of Oklahoma

Subjects like:

Customer Alerting Service: Account confirmation required.

Unlook your Online Banking account

MBNA Internet Banking

Subjects like:

Security Notice #291240 MBNA Internet Banking account Update Necesary!

You will notice the misspellings like "Unlook" or "Necesary" and these are probably not because the spammers are stupid (which some may argue), they are usually purposely used to beat anti-spam filters looking for specific words. Eventually our SPAM filtering devices will tune to these new scams and block them, but spammers are continually updating their emails to temporarily beat filtering so it is up to the students to use common sense about the messages that do get through. A few tips to keep you from getting burned by these schemes:

NEVER give out personal data unless the contact has been initiated by you and do not trust any banking or financial requests for information from emails that solicit you for this no matter how legitimate they look.

ALWAYS make sure any online transactions involving your personal information or credit card information have a URL that begins with httpS - which means your data is traveling through an encrypted SSL tunnel over the internet and if it is intercepted by sniffing or otherwise - the culprits will not be able to read the data and get your information.

Links to Phishing information:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011400021033.aspx

http://www.antiphishing.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

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Can I use e-mail software in conjunction with BearMail?

There are several programs which have compatibility with the Exchange Labs system, such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and MacMail.  For specifics on how to use these programs, please visit the Exchange Labs detailed setup instructions found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchangelabshelp/bb880048.aspx, and use the instructions for connecting through the appropriate service.

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How will Barracuda work with BearMail?

BearMail will not be using the Barracuda system for spam filtering.  Instead, BearMail has a filtering engine run by Microsoft that will be similar to the @live environment, in that noted junk items will either be deleted or put into the Junk folder, and are controlled by the user.

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Will UNC support my Mobile Smartphone with connection to BearMail?

UNC will not support the Windows Mobile component of BearMail.  However, it is a function that is possible through the program itself, and details about its use can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchangelabshelp/bb880048.aspx.

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Does my Calendar work for meeting appointments?

There is the ability within the calendar function of BearMail to schedule meetings with other users.  Specifics on the job aid for Calendar use can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchangelabshelp/ms.exch.owap.calendarpremium.aspx.

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If I have issues with the system, how do I get support?

Contact the Technical Support Center at 970-351-HELP (351-4357), or submit an online ticket at http://www.unco.edu/it/supportu.htm. 

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