[ale] (no subject) SPAM talk...

[Jim Popovitch]

The best solution:

I propose that we unsub Drew/ChangingLINKS so that he is removed from
his problems.  If we do this, I personally volunteer to edit the ALE
archives and remove every instance of Drew's email address. 

Drew, do you still reside in Dallas, TX?

-Jim P.


On Sat, 2004-04-17 at 17:15, James P. Kinney III wrote:
> On Sat, 2004-04-17 at 15:39, ChangingLINKS.com wrote:
> > > You miss my point.  If it is programatically obscured it can be
> > > recovered.  You substitute "at" or "(at)" or "( at )", and it's
> > > nothing to undo (c.f. the previous script).
> > > -- 
> > > Fletch                | "If you find my answers frightening,       __`'/|
> > 
> > I understand what you have said clearly. 
> > While I disagree that spammers will harvest in this way for reasons mentioned 
> > earlier:
> > 1. I think it is bad policy to simply offer the email addresses plainly.
> > 2. I feel that the ike server solution is sufficient.
> > 3. We can simply replace email addresses with member IDs keyed in a very 
> > simple mySQL database.
> > 
> > Harvest that.
> > 
> > The latter solution will even stop the M$ spam problems. The only drawback is 
> > that the user would need to pass email via the ALE server to contact other 
> > members INITIALLY. However ALL ALE spam problems would be eraticated.
> 
> As the ALE list archives are a matter of public record, they serve a
> useful public service when a non-ale person does a Google search
> concerning a problem they are having and finds the solution on the ALE
> archives. 
> 
> This is a good reason to NOT close the archives to non-subscribers.
> Besides, a spammer only has to subscribe, suck out the emails from the
> archives, unsubscribe and blast away.
> 
> There is NO SOLUTION to this problem that will not have a detrimental
> effect that may be greater than the initial problem. Fletch has
> demonstrated that obfuscation is not an answer.
> 
> About once a month, I get an email from someone I have never seen on the
> ALE list. They found my address through a Google search of the ALE
> archives and saw my name as someone who had worked on/helped with/solved
> a problem similar to one they are having. I do not want that secondary
> exposure to what capabilities I have to offer to go away just because
> some bad guys are out there. 
> 
> As the people who do spam studies have found that the vast bulk of spam
> originates from 3-4 people, the removal of those 3-4 people from access
> to computer technology would have a tremendous effect on the global spam
> volume. Eventually, someone with more access to legal prowess than
> anyone on this list will get tired of waiting for the neutered lawmakers
> to put these 3-4 people someplace where they are no longer capable of
> doing their garbage.  When that happens, I hope it looks like something
> from the end of Fargo except feet first.