The IzyMail gateway application is an innovative new solution to access AOL, MSN, Hotmail or Yahoo from any e-mail application or utility, allowing users to complement the conventional browser interface with alternate e-mail applications, automated rule processing, advanced anti-virus or spam protection tools. Designed as a native Windows service application, IzyMail operates equally well for users with a single computer, in a small home network, on an organizational's network, or a public server. IzyMail complements and extends the AOL, MSN, Hotmail or Yahoo browser interface with the capabilities of popular e-mail applications like Outlook, Eudora, IncrediMail, TheBat as well as specialized tools like SpamKiller, PDAs or handheld computers. IzyMail supports sending and receiving of AOL, MSN, Hotmail or Yahoo over the standard Internet protocols POP3 and SMTP. A unique capability of IzyMail is the IMAP4 interface for true message synchronization and full folder support. By using IzyMail's IMAP interface, users can achieve true synchronization of all email with multiple applications and from multiple workplaces. In a typical scenario, users might be using MS Outlook in their office; on the road, they might be using a laptop or Pocket PC for a quick check without the risk of creating multiple, unsynchronized copies of incoming messages. IzyMail helps users during the transition from other providers. The supported Internet standard protocols facilitate continued use of all application they have learned to know over the years. Although IzyMail does not perform any rules processing on its own, it enables to use the rules and filter engines which are built into many other applications, thus complementing AOL, MSN, Hotmail or Yahoo's basic spam filter mechanism. Users can guard themselves against being sent damaging code in e-mail by setting appropriate security levels in their application.