MyCWA - FAQ

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information
E-mail Support
Passwords
Portal Page

General Information

What is the CWA Free WebPack?

The CWA Free WebPack provides a complete online experience with a collection of content, tools, special features and services. The WebPack consists of a state-of-the-art e-mail account with Unlimited Storage Capacity and a personalized e-mail address ‘yourname@MyCWA.net’, a customizable portal page with over 120 news, information and content choices, a browser Toolbar for one-click navigation to team news, search, favorite sites, as well as the latest in online protection tools- Pop-up Blockers, Spam Filters, and Virus Protection.

I already have an Internet service provider but want the WebPack features.
Can I still sign up?

Yes! Don’t want to switch your Internet service provider but want all of the MyCWA membership benefits and exclusive content? Just sign up for the WebPack - it’s ideal for both dial-up and broadband connections.

What is the CWA Toolbar?

The CWA Toolbar sits just below your web browser address bar and provides one-click navigation to your e-mail, portal page, top search engines, affiliated sites and the Online Mall. The Toolbar also includes an effective pop-up blocker and family-friendly content filters.

Where can I download the Toolbar?

Although the Toolbar is downloaded when you sign up for your account you can download the Toolbar on its own by visiting: http://toolbar.mycwa.net/

How do I use the Pop-Up Blocker?

The Pop-Up Blocker works automatically so you can enjoy surfing the web without interruption! When you visit a website that attempts to serve a pop-up ad, the Toolbar flashes, letting you know that an ad has been blocked. You can also click on the 'options' button within the Pop-up Blocker to customize the level of protection you receive.

What is the Online Mall?

The Online Mall currently features over 3,200 brand name stores and retailers. Search online for your favorite brands such as Amazon, Bose, Crayola, Circuit City, Petco, Travelocity and many, many more.

Does MyCWA have parental controls for families?

Yes! MyCWA has content filters to help you protect your children from being exposed to explicit material or accessing adult websites. MyCWA Content Filter currently restricts access to over 65,000 recognized adult web sites. Parents can even control the level of protection by creating their own list of ‘off-limits’ websites. (MyCWA does not make any guarantees that all inappropriate content will be blocked, filtered, or removed or that your child will be absolutely safe from inappropriate content. It is always a good idea for parents to directly monitor the Internet activity of children at all times.)

What are the minimum computer system requirements for MyCWA?

Minimum System Requirements:

Pentium II or higher.
32MB RAM or higher.
Window 98, ME, NT 4.0 (Service Pack 4), 2000, XP or higher.
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.5 or later

Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Is this service compatible with my Macintosh computer?

The majority of WebPack features can be used by PC and Macintosh computers. However, the toolbar can only be used on PC platforms. If you have questions about compatibility, please contact customer support.

E-mail Support

How does MyCWA protect me from unwanted e-mail (spam)?

Every WebPack provides a powerful spam filter that works behind the scenes to keep your inbox free of unsolicited e-mail messages. The WebPack offers users three levels of protection; standard, enhanced and exclusive to control the level of your account’s security.

Does MyCWA provide my e-mail address to outside parties?

No. MyCWA values the privacy of your e-mail address and does not sell to any third party information about its customers, except in cases where we are required by law to do so (such as in the case of a subpoena or court order) or where disclosure is necessary to protect our network (as in a hacker attack) or in an emergency situation. View our Privacy Policy.

Where did my personal e-mail account go? When does an account become dormant?

If a Free WebPack e-mail account is not logged into by a user for a period of 60 days that account becomes dormant. All incoming messages to this account will bounce back to the sender. To reactivate a dormant account, simply log in. If a dormant account remains inactive for more than 90 days, all files, messages, folders and addresses are permanently deleted and can not be retrieved by the user. For more information please see our full Terms and Conditions.

How much storage space do I get with MyCWA e-mail account?

Free WebPack users have unlimited e-mail storage!

Can I access my e-mail and home page away from home or work?

Yes you can! The MyCWA web-based system allows you to check your account from any computer with an Internet connection. Feel free to log on from home, work, vacation - it’s up to you.

What is the difference between web-based and client-based e-mail?

Web-based e-mail means that your e-mail account is actually a web site, providing global access to your e-mail from any Internet-connected computer. Once you have connected to the Internet via a network or Internet service provider just visit http://webmail.mycwa.net/ and log into your account. This is different from client-based e-mail in which you need to connect directly (most times from your own computer) to your network or Internet service provider to access your account.

How large of an attachment can I send or receive through e-mail?

An individual message can be up to 20 MB. Individual messages larger than 20 MB cannot be delivered.

What is an e-mail alias and how does it work?

An e-mail alias is an alternative e-mail address that you choose. It is like an assumed name or nickname that enables you to personalize your e-mail address.

As a MyCWA member, you will be able to choose your user name, which will become your e-mail address, during the registration process. Creating or changing your e-mail alias does not affect your primary e-mail address. You will receive e-mail sent to both your e-mail alias and your e-mail address.

What is MyCWA doing to stop unsolicited e-mail, also known as spam?

MyCWA is committed to protecting the privacy of your e-mail address and is actively developing ongoing solutions to address the problem of unsolicited commercial e-mail. We do this in a number of ways, such as by limiting the number of e-mail messages that can be sent at one time to 100 recipients and the total number of e-mail recipients in any one-hour period to 500. We are implementing new features that allow you to control messages that are delivered to your inbox. For example, by creating block and safe lists you can help to ensure that the e-mail you want gets to your inbox, as well as minimize your junk e-mail.

What is the bulk e-mail folder?

As part of our continuing efforts to increase the quality of the MyCWA Webmail service, the bulk e-mail folder is intended to radically reduce the amount of spam you receive in your inbox. Most bulk messages are redirected to your bulk mail folder. This filtering system is automatically activated when you receive a message that our automatic filter determines was sent in bulk. Note: Messages in the bulk folder are automatically deleted after 7 days. Occasionally a message meant for your Inbox may be inadvertently sent to your bulk mail folder. If this occurs you should add the sender’s address to your personal address book to prevent it from being recognized as bulk mail in the future. To add a sender’s name to your address book:

Click the Address Book tab
Click the 'Add New Contact' button
Type in or cut and paste the sender’s address into the e-mail addresses section
Click 'Add'

What is the MyCWA Privacy Policy?

MyCWA respects your privacy. We will not sell or disclose your personal information to outside companies for marketing or advertising purposes. For more information, you can read the entire MyCWA Privacy Policy.

Passwords

What if I forget my password?

If you come to a login screen and can’t remember your password, just click on ‘Forgot Your Password?’ You’ll be asked to enter in your email address to have the password sent to you. (If you are an existing MyCWA.net member, this will be your login username. If you are not an MyCWA.net member, you must enter the alternate email address that was required during sign up.) If you need assistance, be sure to contact customer support.

Why doesn’t my password work?

There are several reasons why you may be getting an "Invalid Password" error message:

Set your CAPS LOCK key correctly. Passwords are case sensitive (meaning that "PASSWORD," "PaSsWoRd," and "password" are not equivalent), so be sure to keep this in mind when entering your password.
Wait up to 24 hours. If you recently requested a new password or changed your password, this will allow your account to update.
Sign in with the correct user name. If you have forgotten your user name, please contact customer support.
Delete your cookie files. A cookie is a small piece of information stored by your browser that helps identify you. If your cookie is not being accepted correctly, you will be logged out of your account as soon as you move to a different page. This may be blocking your current ability to log in or stay logged in. To delete your cookies, close all browser windows, find the "cookies" directory, and delete the cookie files inside. As always, make sure that you have selected the proper files before deleting.
Clear your browser's cache. At times it is necessary to clear your browser's cache. The cache is the memory your browser uses to store content of the web pages that you visit. Storing that content lets your browser load those same pages more quickly the next time you visit them.
If you are still having problems, contact Customer Support to request a new password.

How do I change my password or other personal account information?

Users who would like to change their password should go to http://www.mycwa.net/user/admin/ and log in. Once inside the user admin area, you may update or change any of your user information.

Portal Page

What is the MyCWA Portal Page?

The Portal Page is a customizable home page that offers users a wide array of exclusive content, worldwide news coverage and photos, unique membership benefits, discounts and all the web tools and services you could ask for. The Portal Page also allows users to import content from anywhere on the web with the RSS Feed Reader. (What’s RSS?). The Portal Page lets you choose, organize, and display the tools and content that’s important to you -all in one location.

How do I get started?

Personalizing your Portal Page is easier than ever. Once you’ve logged in with a user name and password, just check a few boxes to choose the content modules you’d like to display and you’re ready to go. After the Portal is set-up you can always click ‘Add Content’, ‘Change Layout’ or ‘Change Template’ at the top of the page to update or further customize your settings.

How do I customize my Portal Page content modules, tools and services?

You can personalize almost everything on your Portal Page. Just click on the ‘Edit’ button located within the module you’d like to modify, select ‘Edit Content’ from the menu options and you’ll be presented with a variety of choices for customizing each content area. Content modules can be deleted, moved up, down or even across the page. Want to add more? Be sure to click on ‘Add Content’ to display more content modules.

Select from numerous news topics, view up to the minute photos and images, import RSS Feeds from anywhere on the web, get local and worldwide weather forecasts, read daily comics, search local movie theaters, track your stocks, get in-depth financial news, display the scores and stats of your favorite sports teams, create a personal calendar, view local maps, get directions, book a vacation, view email messages, read your horoscopes, and so much more. The MyCWA Portal Page is your home on the web!

How do I make the Portal Page my home page?

To set the Portal as your browser’s home page just click, “Set as Home Page” at the top of the Portal Page. You can also change the setting in Internet Explorer.

Pull down the Tools menu and select Internet Options
Select the General tab sheet
Type Enter correct address here in the Address box
Click the OK button

What’s new in the Portal Page?

The Portal Page has lots of new features- all of which can be personalized and arranged according to your preferences. Remember to click on the ‘Edit’ button within each module to personalize the content to your liking.

Award-winning AP news content and photos
Breaking news and information from the MyCWA
Spanish language news and content
Ability to import RSS feeds into Portal Page
Up to the minute sports scores and stats
Expanded weather forecasting and data
Stock Tracker and financial news
Daily comics
E-mail summary and alert modules
Movie Finder
Maps and Directions
Travel Search Engine
Expanded horoscopes
Word and Quote of the Day
Improved Personal Calendar
Multiple Portal Page templates and colors
Multiple layout choices
Exclusive member benefits and offers
Easier navigation in Online Shopping Mall
More features being added all the time!

What are RSS feeds anyway? Why are they changing the way we use the web?

Everyone has their list of favorite websites, but why visit each one over and over to check for the latest information and content? Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds allow news and headlines from any number of websites to be delivered directly to a single location.

Adding RSS feeds to your Portal Page lets you constantly receive the most up to date information about the subjects that are important to you - all in one place. Using the web has never been so easy.

How do I find out if a website offers RSS?

Every day, more and more websites are enabling their content to be distributed by RSS. Next time you visit a favorite website or blog, look for an icon to determine if a feed is available. If one is present, our RSS Reader will allow you to add this and other feeds to your Portal Page in just a few simple steps. If you’re interested in searching for websites that currently offer RSS feeds, here are a few of the more popular directories available on the net.

How do I add an RSS feed to my Portal Page?

Once you’ve found an RSS feed you’d like to include on your Portal Page, you’re just a few steps away.

Find the small icon signifies RSS capability and right click on that icon to ‘Copy Shortcut’. Or just click on the icon itself and copy the URL address that is displayed in your internet browser’s address bar.
Return to the ‘Add Content’ page of your Portal Page and paste the shortcut or URL address into the ‘Add RSS by URL’ box.
Click the ‘Add’ button and you’re done!

Your new RSS Feed will be positioned at the bottom of your Portal Page. Click on the ‘Edit’ button to move the module up or down on the page.

If the new RSS feed does not appear, you may have incorrectly copied the URL into the ‘Add RSS by URL’ area or your computer may be protected by a firewall and will not accept content from other websites. If this problem continues please contact Customer Support.

Get exclusive access to special content and features as well as Unlimited E-mail storage!