PCWorks: White list/black list services, Sp*mcop, etc.

Yeah, plenty of "thoughts".    This is
an almost literal 
double-edge sword.  SC (SpamCop) NOT withstanding*, these 
places are trying to do a GOOD thing, but unfortunately due
to 
their collective flawed approach of filters and or filtering

algorithms, they have all sorts of problems.

My hosts recently started using SpamAssassin that adds up 
scores for several different factors.  We can adjust this to

our own parameters in our control panels.  If it's set to 
"disable", then the server's default use of it
takes over.  If 
we enable it, then we can set it to our own liking.  At the 
default server settings, it's passing a lot of UCE, and UCE

TAGGED AS "YES".  I added a filter in my email
filters area to 
blackhole all email tagged as "yes" in that
header area.  The 
settings are pretty loose, so you miss fewer legit emails
but 
some of the BS still gets through.

Now I believe SC and several others uses IP ranges which is 
where you can get into trouble.  Those jerks will blacklist
an 
ENTIRE IP range, then idiot ISP's and webhosts will use
that SC 
blacklist database.  I have my email, my LEGIT email,
bounced 
back all the time with some message from SC or SORBS saying
my 
IP has been banned.....and I, or anyone else in these types
of 
predicaments have our criminal moron ISP's to
"thank" for that 
for allowing so many of their customers to spam people. 
What's 
so stupid about this is AOL, one of the worst spammers, has 
gone way overboard with their over-zealous attempts at 
protecting THEIR OWN customers, yet they allow THEIR OWN 
customers to spam no end (AOL doesn't even have any abuse 
address anymore!)  Many of the legit emails sent to AOL 
customers are bounced back as UCE.

Personally I think all filtering should be left to the END 
USERS, and NOT some ISP or true-domain-hosting webhosts. 
Now 
that's not possible for those that don't have their own 
websites (and therefore email) which they can configure any 
email filtration as to how they see fit.  So because of
this, 
some ISP's (and for some unknown reason webhosts) feel the
need 
to use filtration methods, IMPERFECT filtration methods. 
It's 
pointless for paid webhosts to use it since even the
simplest 
of true-domain-hosting webhosts have some kind of UCE 
filtration the user can add/configure themselves.  So I
don't 
understand the point of them using it, especially when it 
causes so many problems.  (I say "true-domain-hosting
webhosts" 
because FREE webhosts usually don't have any kind of UCE 
filtration methods, so if they want to try and cut down on
UCE 
they decide to use these SC or SORBS methods).

IMO, the best method of UCE filtration is what cPanel uses
(a 
hosting software package most webhosts use).  This is 
user-configurable to filter single or multiple IP addresses
or 
entire IP blocks, or words/phrases in the headers, subject
or 
bodies of emails.  This way if I want to block an entire IP 
range, I can add for example "200." and I'll
never receive any 
email from ANY IP address beginning with 200. (which is a
Spam 
and scam supporting IP prefix on LACNIC).  I won't do
business 
with anyone from that area due to rampant criminal activity,
so 
I have no business getting any email from them nor do I want

to.  So, it's blocked.  I unfortunately though, (like SC or

SORBS) after so many years of abuse, have been forced to
block 
numerous IP ranges in the USA, like on Cogentco, Roadrunner,

and a few others that support and condone UCE and scams (I 
honestly believe they ARE IN ON THEM, and get some kind of
"cut 
of the action").  So, the few(?) good people on these
specific 
IP addresses cannot get email to my company.  That's just
the 
way it HAS to be to try and keep my sanity and what of my 
health still remains.  I did put information on this at my 
website which explains this in detail if potential customers
on 
these blocked ranges do not receive replies to inquiries. 
As 
you say; It is for the majority more important to ensure 
delivery of legitimate email than it is to block a few more 
UCE's one already gets, but in order to try and protect my 
health, I have to be in the minority there and block ALL I 
possibly can.

*I mentioned above "SC not withstanding",
because while they do 
have a reporting service and their DB of blacklists that
places 
uses, I do believe they have ulterior motives in their 
"venture".  They repeatedly use KNOW BAD email
addresses for 
ISP's and webhosts to which reports are sent!  This has
been 
going on for YEARS even after my own (and I'm sure
thousands 
other's) complaints regarding this.  So all these abuse
reports 
fall into cyberspace oblivion while the spammers rejoice. 
I've 
even given them THE REAL VALID addresses, and the jerks
still 
won't use them.  I think certain large or powerful (or 
threatening) ISP's and webhosts are paying-off SC to do
this.

I too get really PO'd when my legit emails are bounced
back, 
especially by AOL, and I'd consider joining any
class-action 
suit against them because of blocking entire IP ranges. 
Like I 
said, this should be left to the END USER and NOT some ISP. 
And for those that don't have their own domains/websites, 
something should be put in place for them.  Such as, an 
end-user configurable email interface in their respective 
"webmail" login areas.  You could go to your
ISP's website 
where your webmail is, setup the filters, then they would be

active and working as you receive your email in your OE, 
Outlook, or whichever email program's inbox.  Heck,
although 
with few options, even Gmail, and probably other free email 
places have UCE filters, so if they can do it, certainly
ISP's 
can do it, and even better with more options!  Then places
like 
this SC, SORBS, etc. blacklist DB's would not be necessary.

None of this of course would ever be necessary if it were
not 
for spamming criminal parasites--who should get the death 
penalty and let those who've had their lives and businesses

ruined by UCE "throw the switch".

Tougher Laws MUST be put into action, and INTERNATIONAL LAWS
at 
that since the overwhelming majority of UCE comes from
As*ia. 
But that will never happen because the ISP and hosts in
these 
countries are in on the UCE and scams.  So a Law MUST be
passed 
that gives the power to USA authorities to go after these 
parasites in OTHER countries and extradite them to the USA
for 
prosecution (it would not be hard to "bait"
them).  And no 
cheap fines, HUGE fines PLUS LONG jail time.  This is a 
PRO-ACTIVE method, and not some reactive method, and that's

exactly what it's going to take to stop it due to the fact 
reactive methods are so flawed.  Once some parasite KNOWS
they 
are going to lose everything plus end up in jail, they're
sure 
as hell are not going to be very likely to do it.
-Clint

God Bless
Clint Hamilton, Owner
http://OrpheusComputing.c
om

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Dougherty"


Had anyone thought about proposing to courts, lawmakers,
etc., 
the
possibility of shutting down Sp*mcop and other organizations

using a black
list?
Recently, I have missed several emails because IP addresses 
were listed. One
is an email list that doesn't send email but to its
members. 
How did this
site get listed?
It seems to me it is more important to ensure delivery of 
legitimate email
than it is to block a few more sp*m then I already get.
Thoughts?
Jeff
============= PCWorks Mailing List =================
Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines &
make sure you've followed proper posting procedures,
http://pcworkers.com/r
ules.htm
Contact list owner <owner-pcworksimagicomm.com>
Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com
=====================================================