Re: Possible SPAM solution. (Off topic)

From: Stephen Rock (rocks@rpi.edu)
Date: Wed Sep 01 1999 - 18:38:35 EEST


"Dickinson, John" wrote:

> I'll keep this simple.
>
> FACT. The rp-ml mailing list is being subscribed to SPAM email lists and
> other web subscription services.
>
> FACT. This means people on the list get unwanted email and don't always
> realise that it is through no fault of rp-ml administrators or the host
> majordomo site.
>
> FACT. Some list members get annoyed and send email to the list and/or the
> spammers thus ensuring their own email address and rp-ml's get tagged as
> active and targeted for further SPAM.
>
> FACT. If the mailing list only propogated email from people on the list then
> most (if not all) SPAM and alternate mailing list services email would not
> get through, hence no more annoyances.
>
> FACT. This would prevent legitimate RP email questions from list outsiders.
>
> PROPOSAL: Only propogate email from members and have non-member email go to
> a seperate mailbox to be sent on to the list manually by the administrator
> or other list member volenteer who would have the rights to send email to
> the list. This way one person gets the spam and can delete the junk instead
> of everyone.
>
> John Dickinson
>
> --
> -((Insert standard disclaimer here))-|--- Washington Irving (1783-1859)
> ----
> John Kenneth Dickinson | "A sharp tongue is the only
> Research Council Officer IMTI-NRC | edge tool that grows keener
> email: john.dickinson@nrc.ca | with constant use."
> http://mars.imti.nrc.ca/~kenneth/ |
>
> For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/

Dear John & List,

It's a great suggestion to block automated e-mail propagation from
non-subscribers.

However, manual filtering of non-subscriber messages costs someone time
(essentially creating a moderated list). As an alternative, how about issuing
an
auto-response to non-subscriber e-mail that invites the sender to subscribe --
even
if only temporarily -- as a requirement for passing mail to the list? If the
subscription process could be moved to the web (instead of being done via
e-mail),
it would give the list an opportunity to collect additional information, such as
the
subscribers IP address, that might be useful in identifying future offenders.

Does this have merit and could it be easily implemented?

Regards,
Steve

--
=======================================
Stephen J. Rock
CII8015
Center for Automation Technologies
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180  USA
(518)276-8652  Fax -4897
http://www.rpi.edu/~rocks
=======================================

For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/



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