[ale] g-mail blocks tar.gz attachments, but not .zip...

[aaron]

On Saturday 04 February 2006 17:39, Steven A. DuChene wrote:
> Do they also block tar.bz2 attachments?

I'd have to try that...

...didn't argue with a .tar.bz2 (file and extension).
AND the package I just tested with contained Linux executable files.

Even bigger holes in any rationale they might offer for trapping .tar.gz??

peace
aaron


> -----Original Message-----
> From: aaron <aaron at pd.org>
> >Sent: Feb 3, 2006 7:23 PM
> >To: ALE <ale at ale.org>
> >Subject: [ale] g-mail blocks  tar.gz attachments, but not .zip...
> >
> >I have found g-mail accounts to be a handy service for sharing, xferring 
and 
> >storing files in a web accessable space. The only caveat I've encountered 
is 
> >that google disallows certain file types as attachments on both incoming or 
> >outgoing g-mail.
> >
> >I fully understand why they would want to protect the Micro$hafted maroons 
of 
> >the world from their own ignorance by blocking ".exe" attachments.  What I 
> >don't understand why they also choose to block ".tar.gz"  files, and yet 
> >allow ".zip" attachments without question.
> >
> >Googl's reply to my query of this policy (exchange below) did nothing but 
> >re-state the obvious by notifying me that they block ".exe" and ".tar.gz" 
> >attachments.  (Yes. I already know that. My question was WHY do you block 
> >".tar.gz"?)
> >
> >I've found workarounds and can easily attach any file to my g-mails, but  
> >I'm wondering if anyone here can enlighten me with a good reason for 
googl's 
> >".tar.gz" policy.  I thought tar and gz were passive archiving formats.
> >
> >peace
> >aaron
> >
> >
> >=========================================
> From: "Gmail Team" <gmail-support at google.com>
> >To: arxaaron at gmail.com
> >
> >Hello,
> >Thank you for your message.
> >
> >As a security measure to prevent the spread of potential viruses, Gmail
> >users can't send or receive tar.gz files (ending in '.tar.gz') or
> >executable files. Please note that a file can be executable even if it
> >does not have '.exe' as an extension.
> >
> >Gmail does not accept tar.gz or executable files, even if they are sent in
> >a zipped format. If someone tries to send this type of message to your
> >Gmail account, the message will be bounced back to the sender.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >The Gmail Team
> >
> >------------------------
> >Original Message Follows:
> >
> From: arxaaron at gmail.com
> >Subject: zip vs tar.gz
> >  [snip]
> >
> >Why do you reject tar.gz archives? If there's a reason, why doesn't it
> >apply equally to .zip archives?
> >
> >===============================================
> >_______________________________________________
> >Ale mailing list
> >Ale at ale.org
> >http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> 
>