[Discuss] a leg up against spam.

[R. Langkamer]

On 11/27/07 4:50 PM, Patrick wrote:

> I don't get spam, and I don't use filters.
> 
> I've had some trouble with false-positives in the past, while
> some of the crap got through anyway, so I don't trust email
> filtering anymore.  I certainly don't trust any filter that I
> can't turn off [eg, ISP-side filtering].  Instead, I'm just
> careful of who I give my address to.
> 
>     http://sneakemail.com/
> 
> Here's another one;
>     http://emailias.com/
> 
> So, for example, the only address eBay ever sees is
> `eekBay-crustomer(a)sneakEmail.com', PayPal; `PainPal-crustomer@',
> Amazon; `Amaz0ff-crustomer@', etc.  These, surprisingly, haven't
> drawn any spam.
> 
> By the way, a few months before before switching ISPs,
> Leaden_Pb(a)primus.ca started getting small a amount of spam, and
> I think that had something to do with the `Members' pages on VLUG.
> Took me quite a while to figure out where it was coming from, but
> that's the only place where my address has been posted on a
> website, in cleartext, as a bot-readable link.
> 
> By default, I think member addresses should be hidden.  Times
> have changed.


	This is why I have my own domain name(s). I use "disposable" email 
addresses on my domain name for tracking purposes. By this I mean, if 
uniserve at langkamerit.com starts getting spam, then I know that uniserve 
is at fault and I can take action against them for not protecting my 
information.
	In conjunction, I also use server side filters (spam assassin) and 
filtering in my email client of choice.

	Obviously, to each his own and no solution is 100% effective for 100% 
of the population. :) The ratio's are more along the lines of 80/20.

	Agreeably, email addresses on websites should never be in plain text. 
Use a captcha form or an encoded email address link or you will get spam.

	As for spam sources, beside the obvious army of zombie computers 
connected to the internet, there are also sleazy businesses that somehow 
retain their internet services even when you complain to their provider 
about TOS/AUP policy violations. The aforementioned primus is a perfect 
example. I got tired of sending them emails about the spam I was getting 
from their client so I black listed the entire subnet from sending me 
mail. Pain in the arse!

-- 

Sincerely,

R. Langkamer

cross platform specialist
Mac - Linux - windows

Langkamer I.T.
on-site/remote tutorials, support & training
(T) 250.391.8972
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