RE: [cobalt-users] Spam blocking

["Dan Kriwitsky" <list1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > But clearly, the actions of blocking spam indiscriminately 
> affect innocent
> > people and those people _may_ in some countries have a right to seek
> > compensation.
> 
> Agreed.

Seeing as you're agreeing with the above, please show what right to seek
compensation those people have from those that block them with whom they
have no contract.

> Unfortunately some people on this list do not realise that:
> 1. The US is not the only country on the face of the planet

The sun rises in the east. That has a lot to do with blocking spam, too.

> 2. It's laws are far from perfect

So? You'll find similar laws in virtually every civilized country that
gives property owners the right to protect their property and set
contract terms with their customers.

> 3. Spam is an international problem

Yeah? So?

> 4. International problems lead to involving local laws

Which local laws?

> 5. If you are not 110% sure that your spam filtering does not 
> lead to false
> positives do not block - just tag

No. My server, my rules. Every spam blocked gets a rejection message
including a method of contact to request a white list. In two years, no
such requests.

> 6. Blocking at the MTA level using RBLs can be extremely dangerous

Dangerous to spammers.

> 
> And before any of the muppets reply with their "how dare you 
> say that" type
> response please note:
> 1. I know what I am talking about

So do I.

> 2. I have thought about it

So have I.

> 3. We do this stuff for a living using proper servers and 
> filter mail using
> a number of advanced techniques

So do thousands of admins using various DNSBLs. Maybe you like to accept
email from listed open relays, proxies and dynamic/dialup user IPs, and
those known spam operations listed by spamhaus.org. I prefer not to.

> 4. If you wish to rebut my comments please make specific and clear
> references to examples

See my reply to #5 above. I'll be happy to send you a copy of the
rejection lines from my maillog and you can go through the thousands of
IPs to see if any legit DUL listed IPs or spam supporting ISPs were
mistakenly blocked.

The fact that you choose to accept all that garbage on your server and
process the spam instead of just blocking it at the SMTP is up to you.
Your server, your rules.
-- 
C2003 Dan Kriwitsky

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