mobile user strawman argument

Brad Knowles brad at stop.mail-abuse.org
Thu Jun 30 21:16:37 UTC 2005


At 2:02 PM -0700 2005-06-30, Mike Leber wrote:

>  In practice if your remote users don't use the submit port on your servers
>  it gives rise to all kinds of different issues involving you trying to
>  support the outbound filtering AOL is doing on your customers sending from
>  non AOL domains.

	That doesn't change the fact that plenty of MUAs do not properly 
handle alternative ports.

>  Or you support POP AUTH, which just works, is in widespread use (probably
>  the most widespread of the methods of authenticating the submit port after
>  allowing relaying by IP), and was implemented years ago when open relays
>  were closed.

	Unfortunately, plenty of MUAs, even ones old enough to have been 
around when POP-before-SMTP was the only authentication measure 
around, still don't support this, or don't support it correctly.


	Hell, damn few clients do plain-jane POP or SMTP anywhere 
remotely close to correctly.  Expecting them to do anything more 
advanced than that will be an exercise in frustration.

	You can't just set a hard and fast rule (like "let them eat 
cake"), and automatically expect all MUAs to kow-tow overnight.

-- 
Brad Knowles, <brad at stop.mail-abuse.org>

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

     -- Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), reply of the Pennsylvania
     Assembly to the Governor, November 11, 1755

   SAGE member since 1995.  See <http://www.sage.org/> for more info.



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