On December 24, 1998, 158 PCFA.ORG accounts were deleted because they had neither logged into their account in more than one year, nor responded to an e-mail message about keeping their accounts. All references to the home pages or e-mail for these accounts have been deleted, too. Users were e-mailed a message about this on October 17, 1998. Beginning in 1999, accounts will be deleted automatically and without warning if the user has not completed an interactive login during the previous six months time period. Users may check for the date of their last interactive login by getting to the PCFA.ORG $ prompt and entering the command
(there is a "dot" before the file name '.last_login'). Notice that an interactive login is either (a) making a modem call to 887-1842 and successfully logging in with a terminal program (such as Microsoft's Hyperterminal on Windows 95/98) or by use of TELNET. Simply retreiving e-mail via POP3 does not count! When PCFA.ORG deletes accounts, we will attempt to set e-mail forwarding to the address you place in the '.forward' file in your home directory. Any user whose account is deleted may apply for a new account using the standard forms available around town.
Text of e-mail message sent to users:
PCFA.ORG Users:
The Prescott Community Freenet Association has operated 'wolfden' and 'pcfa.org' since July 1995. As you
can imagine, during that time many users have been added to the system. Many have left and no longer use
the computer. With any leftovers, there is a management problem and more crucially, the possibility of a
security breach.
Beginning in 1999, the System Administrator will periodically remove accounts which have not logged into
the system in at least six months. This will be done without warning. To prevent your account from
being removed, do an interactive login every couple months. An interactive login is a successful dial-in
to the 887-1842 number with a program such as Windows 95/98 Hyperterminal or a TELNET into the system (if
you don't know what that is, do the dial-in). It takes just a couple minutes and lets y our account stay
active.
Please note: If you use only POP3 to check e-mail (like Netscape, Internet Explorer or Outlook), then you
are NOT doing an interactive login. Be sure to do an interactive login or your account is subject to
removal.
Should your account be removed, reapply for it the same way you would for a new account, except specify
"REAPPLY" next to your preferred account name. If that name has not been reassigned, it will most likely
be reinstated for you.
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