open relays at Earthlink

Fri Aug 28 01:46:12 UTC 1998

I think ELM launched this mail already, as it didn't give me a prompt at
all.  Maybe this is a good time to find a better mail client; ELM has been
a pain (but please do not suggest PINE).

Anyway, this thread on spam has focused on whether it is appropriate for an
ISP to block access from dialups to SMTP servers beyond the ISP servers.

I recently received several copies of spam from dialups at ATT Canada on
one of my outside accounts, and I sent reports to their abuse department
about each instance.  I also told them that I block such access, and that
I recommended that they, too, block it.  I got usual responses from them,
and responded back to one of them restating my suggestion.

Today I got this response from them.  It looks like they have decided that
this is going to help reduce the volume of spam, especially via customers
of ISP using their dialup network.

| From: "S Security" <abuse at attcanada.net>
| To: "Phil Howard" <philh at best.com>
| Subject: Re: UCE report --- time to disable this
| Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 17:38:29 -0400
|
| This message is intended as an update to ISPs and individual users regarding
| the International Drivers License/University Diploma/Pheromes spam
| originating from a downstream ISP of ATTCANADA.NET.
| 
| The spammer is believed to be running a mail server on his own PC.  His mail
| never touches our mail server.  As such his mail has not subject to our own
| mail server spam controls, which strictly monitor and limit outgoing mail
| volumes.  He has evaded the controls of our downstream as well.
| 
| We also believe the effort is less so to generate sales for the rather
| dubious products they are offering but to encourage you to make a long
| distance phone call, either by calling about the products or calling Plus
| Net Marketing   The calls are most likely re-routed overseas to generate
| settlement toll.
| 
| Today AT&T Canada has taken steps to prevent users dialed into our network
| from generating SPAM on their Personal Computers. Effective immediately
| filters are being put in place so that mail from our dial-in network must be
| relayed through pre-authorized  mail servers configured with anti-spam
| software. Access to transmit mail via other mail servers on the Internet
| whether secured or otherwise has been disabled.
| 
| AT&T Canada takes the issue of spamming very seriously, and have no desire
| to profit or participate in any ongoing spamming activity.  We share in the
| Internet wide responsibility to eliminate SPAM.  Our own Terms of Service
| allow for immediate termination and financial penalties for repeat
| offenders.
| 
| Again, we re-iterate that the spammer was never a direct customer of AT&T
| Canada.  He abused good faith offers from a downstream ISP and established
| at least 15 accounts with them over the last few weeks.  He has also abused
| netcom.ca and other ISPs as well.
| 
| We expect the addition of these filters will allow us to control the flow of
| messages from our site more effectively, even from a downstream ISP.
| 
| Thank you very much for your attention.

My applause and thanks to ATT Canada for taking this brave move.

Now when a customer of some ISP in Canada not yet using ATT Canada is
impacted by their ISP being mail filtered due to spam sourcing, there
is another ISP to send them to that actually carries out an anti-spam
policy.

-- 
Phil Howard | eat92me9 at lame6ads.edu stop7it0 at lame8ads.org suck9it4 at anywhere.com
  phil      | stop0ads at s8p6a6m5.org no6spam4 at dumb9ads.edu end8it17 at dumb8ads.edu
      at    | no7way29 at dumb5ads.org ads9suck at noplace2.org w1x7y7z5 at lame7ads.org
  ipal      | suck1it1 at dumb4ads.net end9ads2 at dumb1ads.net crash301 at anywhere.edu
     dot    | no63ads8 at anywhere.net stop8it3 at anyplace.com a2b2c4d8 at lame9ads.net
  net       | a5b3c1d4 at lame6ads.net eat77me6 at spammer8.net eat6this at nowhere5.org