Mstar Frequently Asked Questions
MY ACCOUNT
How do I pay my bill online?How do I change my billing information/billing method?
How do I add additional e-mail addresses to my account?
How do I retrieve/change my password?
How do I add additional services?
How do I register my MAC Address?
FIREWALLS
What is a firewall?Why is it important?
Will a DSL / Cable Modem work?
How do I check my e-mail online?
NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (NIC)
What is a NIC?Does my computer have a NIC?
How do I get a NIC?
K9 WEB PROTECTION
What is K9 Web Protection?What makes K9 so effective?
How do I install it?
How is the connection made from the access portal to my computer?
What if I have multiple computers?
Can I get a static IP address?
Do I own the access portal and battery backup that will be installed in my home?
WINDOWS UPDATE/ANTI-VIRUS
What is Windows UpdateWhat is a computer virus?
What is Spyware?
MY ACCOUNT
- How do I pay my bill online?
- Go to www.mstar.net and sign in. You will be able to review your bill and pay online with a credit card.
- How do I change my billing information/billing method?
- You can change your billing information by going to www.mstar.net, clicking on the "My Account" link, selecting between Fiber-Optic Service and DSL/Dial-up Service, and then selecting "Account Management" to log in. Once you’ve logged in you will be able to pay your bill and manage your account.
- How do I add additional e-mail addresses to my account?
- To add an e-mail address to your account, go to www.mstar.net, click on the "My Account" link, and proceed to your particular "Account Management" link. Click on the "Child Account" tab, and then click the "e-mail account" link at the left. Then, click the "New" button at the bottom of that window and complete the requested information.
- How do I retrieve/change my password?
- If you have forgotten your password or if you want to change your password, please contact us at (877) Mstar ME (678-2763).
- How do I add additional services?
- Mstar offers world-class Internet, Television, and Phone services. To add additional services to your account, please contact us at (877)678-2763.
- How do I register my MAC Address?
- iProvo requires that all devices are registered. To register your device please call us at (877) Mstar ME.
Top
Top
Top
Top
Top
Top
FIREWALLS
- What is a firewall?
- A firewall is basically the first line of defense for your network. The basic purpose of a firewall is to keep uninvited guests from browsing your network. A firewall can be a hardware device or a software application and generally is placed at the perimeter of the network to act as the gatekeeper for all incoming and outgoing traffic.
- Why is it important?
- A personal computer connected to the Internet without a firewall can be hijacked in just a few minutes by automated hacker ''Bots''. The only way to make your computer 100 percent secure is to turn it off or disconnect it from the Internet. The real issue is how to make your computer 99 percent secure when it is connected. Not having firewall protection is like leaving your wallet on a bench at a busy bus stop with your social security card, driver's license, cash and credit cards inside it. Firewalls can provide a good layer of protection by making it difficult for would-be thieves to find and take control of your computer.
- Will a DSL / Cable Modem work?
- No.
Top
Top
Top
- How do I set up Outlook or another computer-based program to check my Mstar e-mail account?
-
Set up a new e-mail account (in Outlook or your program of choice) using the settings below:
- Server type is POP or POP3.
- E-mail address is the username you created followed by @mstarmetro.net
- Password is the password you created for your Mstar e-mail account.
- The incoming mail server is pop.mstarmetro.net.
- The outgoing mail server is smtp.mstarmetro.net.
- Make sure to enable authentication on the outgoing mail server.
If you need further assistance setting up a POP account, please contact Mstar Customer Care.
Top
- How do I check my e-mail online?
-
Go to www.mstar.net and click My Account. Click Fiber Optic Customers Click Here and Sign Into My Web Mail. Enter your full e-mail address and password.
For more information about setting up an e-mail account, please see our Quick Start Guide at http://www.mstar.net/support.
Top
NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (NIC)
- What is a NIC?
- A Network Interface Card (NIC) provides network access to your computer. Some computers have these card installed when you buy them. If your computer does not have a NIC, you will need to purchase one and have it installed by a service professional. Mstar does not install NICs. Typically computers connect to an access point (or router) using an Ethernet cable that plugs into the NIC (Ethernet jack) at one end and the access point (or router) on the other end.
- Does my computer have a NIC?
- To locate a NIC slot, look for a jack on your computer that is similar to, though a bit larger, than a phone jack. An Ethernet cable plugs into this jack in the same way a phone cord plugs into a telephone jack. You can tell the difference between these by the size. NIC slots/ Ethernet jacks are larger than telephone jacks.
- How do I get a NIC?
- NIC's may be purchased at most computer/electronics retailers. You should purchase a NIC and have it installed BEFORE the Mstar service technician comes to install your Internet service.
Top
Top
Top
K9 WEB PROTECTION
- What is K9 Web Protection?
-
Blue Coat® K9 Web Protection is a content filtering solution for your home computer. Its job is to provide you with a family-safe Internet experience, where YOU control the Internet content that enters your home. K9 Web Protection implements the same enterprise-class Web filtering technology used by Blue Coat's Fortune 500 customers around the world, wrapped in simple, friendly, and reliable software for your Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista computer.
Top
- What makes K9 so effective?
-
Blue Coat's unique Web filtering technology divides Internet content into more than 55 distinct categories. These categories are stored in the master Blue Coat database, through which we maintain and update more than eight million ratings of websites and domains. A Web site will fall into one or more of these categories, based on the content of the site. To meet your particular needs and preferences, you can configure the software to block or allow specific categories.
K9 Web Protection is different from other solutions for the home in several important respects:
- Service-based filtering - Blue Coat's filtering database operates as a service. It receives and rates over 50 million requests every day, making it the most accurate content filtering database available. This accuracy is important in protecting your family, given the Internet's rapid changes and growth. Plus, there is no database to download. K9 Web Protection won't clog your Internet connection, get "stale" or out of date, or slow down your computer like other products do.
- Dynamic Real-Time Rating™ (DRTR) - Blue Coat's patent-pending DRTR technology is a very powerful element in our solution, and is vastly different from the old-fashioned "key word filtering" that is so frustrating to users. Using a method of statistical analysis and artificial intelligence to rate new or previously unrated Web pages, DRTR can determine the category of a URL on the fly, without human intervention. However, DRTR only renders a rating when it is confident that it has reached an accurate conclusion.
We've focused DRTR on recognizing the kinds of categories most likely to be blocked. In particular, DRTR is highly accurate in blocking pornography and other "adult content" sites. This focus for DRTR is particularly important because these kinds of sites are constantly - daily and even hourly - popping up on the Internet, and no static database can keep up.
- Automatic updating - Automatic updates of the K9 Web Protection application ensure that you are always protected by the latest features. For example, in Spring of 2005, we added two new categories to our solution: Spyware/Malware Sources, and Spyware Effects/Privacy Concerns. By electing to block sites in these categories, your computer's rate of infection by unwanted software can be reduced dramatically. We have a variety of new features planned, and your K9 installation will automatically receive updates that include them.
- Efficient caching - K9 Web Protection is a product from Blue Coat. Blue Coat is recognized world-wide as expert in high-performance caching and secure proxy technology. We take advantage of that expertise in K9, so your Internet experience is as fast, reliable, and safe as we can make it.
Unlike other filtering solutions, K9 Web Protection ensures the highest level of protection by building the most relevant ratings database available. Its effective coverage reaches more than one billion Web pages. With K9 Web Protection, you finally have a chance to build a family-safe Internet experience for your home, simply and easily.
Top
- How do I install it?
- K9 Web Protection is client based software that you'll need to download and install on your computer. This process is very quick and easy, you will be conveniently walked through the download/install process once you go to http://www.k9webprotection.com/license.jsp.
- How is the connection made from the access portal to my computer?
- The access portal is installed in a utility room, garage, etc, and an Ethernet (CAT 5) line will be professionally run from the access portal to a computer, or to a router/firewall and then to a computer.
- What if I have multiple computers?
- Connections may be made to additional devices for a fee. If you have a wireless router, you may configure the router to broadcast your signal throughout your house
- Can I get a static IP address?
- Yes. Contact technical support at (877) 678-2763.
- Do I own the access portal and battery backup that will be installed in my home?
-
No. These devices are owned by UTOPIA and iProvo, they in turn grant you free usage of these devices.
Top
Top
Top
Top
Top
WINDOWS UPDATE/ANTI-VIRUS
- What is Windows Update
- Windows Update is the online extension of Microsoft Windows, and is designed to help your computer continue to work better and run better. Windows Update includes new product enhancements such as system files, device drivers, service packs, security patches, and new Windows features. You can access Windows Update at windowsupdate.microsoft.com.
- What is a computer virus?
- A computer virus is a program created specifically to invade computers and networks and wreak havoc on them. The mischief caused can be very minor, such as causing a funny image or cryptic message to be displayed on your screen, or it can do serious damage by altering or even destroying files. If you don't have anti-virus software, you will eventually get a virus and probably lose data on your computer.
- What is Spyware?
- This is also known as "adware". It is a hidden software program that surreptitiously monitors your actions and transmits that information via the Internet. While they are sometimes sinister, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use spyware to gather data about customers.
Top
Top
Top
