RE: [802SEC] Spam on email reflectors
Replies sent only to originator. Use "reply all" to reply to the list
Colleagues, There's an additional problem inherent in the closed list which has
not yet been mentioned, which is that someone has to agree to be the gatekeeper
for deciding who can and who can't be added to the list or the restriction is rather
meaningless (if anyone can join, the spammers will too, and throwing folks off will
not be a deterrent if all they need to do is rejoin). So there's a significant extra
administrative load involved in maintaining a closed list that may not be worth the
effort unless the spammers really start to get out of hand. Usually a quick response
to the spammer indicating that his message was not appropriate for the reflector is
sufficient to deter future transgressions. It is possible to block messages from
specific senders too, but if they are as resourceful as the spammers I see on hotmail
they never use the same email address more than once, so that's not much help either.
Let's all pray for a bit of "goodwill amongst men" (and ladies too!).
Thanx, Buzz
Everett O. (Buzz) Rigsbee
Boeing SSG
PO Box 3707, M/S: 7M-FM
Seattle, WA 98124-2207
ph: (425) 865-2443, fx: (425) 865-6721
email: everett.o.rigsbee@boeing.com
> ----------
> From: Roger B. Marks[SMTP:marks@boulder.nist.gov]
> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 1:04 PM
> To: stds-802-sec@ieee.org
> Subject: Re: [802SEC] Spam on email reflectors
>
> Mike,
> 802.16 doesn't. One major problem with restriction is that many
> people use different return addresses, depending on their
> circumstance when they send the note. The restricted reflector is set
> up to accept only one of these. There will be a lot of bounces,
> although maybe people can get used to this.
> Another option is to set the "taboo body" parameter to auto-bounce
> messages with certain unacceptable words. This is a crude way to
> filter spam. I'm hesitant to start writing a list of such words.
> Perhaps the spammers are clever enough to avoid this kind of trap anyway.
> I've been hoping that some creative person in the IEEE IT department
> will find a brilliant solution.
> Roger
> >Replies sent only to originator. Use "reply all" to reply to the list
> >People,
> >I recall a recent spate of spam on the SEC reflector and the
> >discussion on whether posting policies should be open or closed.
> >My reflector just got spammed today and some of my members
> >have suggested I restrict posting to members of the mailing list.
> >Does any other group restrict access in a similar manner?
> >cheers,
> >mike
> >Michael Takefman tak@cisco.com
> >Manager HW Engineering, Cisco Systems
> >Chair IEEE 802.17 Stds WG
> >2000 Innovation Dr, Ottawa, Canada, K2K 3E8
> >voice: 613-271-3399 fax: 613-271-4867
>