Have spam filters been trained over XMAS?
Quote from: elton It's thanks to the likes of you, apologists for PlusNet, that they don't do something about it. As far as I'm aware, the address in the "from" field is where it came from, and that's where I'm bouncing it to. If you start targeting your spam at me, then it should be fairly obvious who the perpetrator is (if only from your threat, above). Should I complain to PlusNet now about your threat, or should I wait until you start spamming me?
Apologist for Plusnet? I suggest you re-read my first three posts in this topic where I have made it abundantly clear that I think Plusnet have "dropped a spherical object" by failing to keep the spam filters trained. If you hunt around you will also find posts where I've said I've turned off the spam checking because it is so [censored] useless and I am relying on the Thunderbird junk filter instead.
As several people have pointed out, the "from" is rarely where the email originated. A quote from Wikipedia:
Quote Backscatter of email spam
The term "backscatter" is also used to describe a side-effect of email spam, viruses and worms. In this context, an alternate, more distinguishing term ("outscatter") is also used, since the traffic isn't directed to the original destination, but to a third party instead. Since a 2002 Klez variant[1], a large proportion of malignant email is sent with a forged sender address, but some mail servers do not take this into account. They generate bounce messages for spam or viruses - which of course go to an innocent party.
Since these messages were not solicited by the recipients, are substantially similar to each other, and are delivered in bulk quantities, they themselves can qualify as unsolicited bulk email or spam. As such, systems that generate e-mail backscatter can end up being listed on various DNSBLs and be in violation of ISPs Terms-of-Service for being abusive.
By bouncing emails, which get sent via relay.plus.net, it is distinctly possible that you are one of the reasons why the Plusnet mail servers are frequently listed on the DNSBLs.
I have no intention of spamming you, but your reaction illustrates exactly how the recipient of your bounces is probably feeling about you.
You might also try reading some of the following:
http://www.postfix.org/BACKSCATTER_README.html
http://spamlinks.net/prevent-secure-backscatter.htm
http://www.dontbouncespam.org/
elton, no-one is suggesting that you should stop using MailWasher - it is a first class product and is a highly efficient way of quickly removing the dross from your mailbox. What we are all trying to convince you is that you should turn off the bounce feature and instead just silently delete the spam. In doing that you will do us and more importantly yourself a favour.
When you "bounce" an email using MailWasher it looks totally different to when an email is rejected by the initial MX server. In doing so you you achieve one of two things: either the email address you send the bounce to is fake - in which case the recipient of the bounce had nothing to do with the sending, or it might possibly actually reach the spammer in which case it confirms to him that the email address the spam was sent to was valid - which will mean he will target you with more spam.
In the case of the first option, the bounce email will have clearly come via the Plusnet relay.plus.net. As far as the recipient of the bounce is concerned, the bounce message is itself spam and he may report it to Spamcop etc. - which results in the Plusnet server being listed and various ISP's who use these lists incorrectly start rejecting emails from all Plusnet users.
So, carry on using MailWasher by all means - but please, please, please turn off the bounce feature.
When you "bounce" an email using MailWasher it looks totally different to when an email is rejected by the initial MX server. In doing so you you achieve one of two things: either the email address you send the bounce to is fake - in which case the recipient of the bounce had nothing to do with the sending, or it might possibly actually reach the spammer in which case it confirms to him that the email address the spam was sent to was valid - which will mean he will target you with more spam.
In the case of the first option, the bounce email will have clearly come via the Plusnet relay.plus.net. As far as the recipient of the bounce is concerned, the bounce message is itself spam and he may report it to Spamcop etc. - which results in the Plusnet server being listed and various ISP's who use these lists incorrectly start rejecting emails from all Plusnet users.
So, carry on using MailWasher by all means - but please, please, please turn off the bounce feature.
I care if I emails I send are rejected by some ISP's because someone is forwarding spams willy nilly all round the internet!
