Google = Spam Source (was RE: Gmail weirdness?)

Fri Feb 10 21:43:00 UTC 2006

On Fri, 10 Feb 2006, Gary Wardell wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I've seen one or two blogs that suggest gmail has a potential as a source for anonymous SPAM and other abuses.
>
> One said he blocks all gmail.
>
> I'd be interested as to what others think.
>

Well after I posted to NANOG about gmail I found myself randomly added to 
a 'Google Group' about hacking...

The 'welcome' message is attatched below.
Frankly this just smells of 'abuse black hole' and I woulda thought that 
Google would know better.

- No request for authentication or confirmation of the subscription 
request _before_ the victim starts receiving mail traffic.

- Attempts to use the unsubscription tool result in the need to create a 
login account.

- The 'report as abuse' link presents you with a form, which I used...
Interesting however that the form was under groups.google.co.in (obviously 
the domain the offender uses.)

- I'm now stuck with a subscription I don't want and an unsubscribe 
mechanism that is unacceptable. Among other things the email address I use 
generally is not the same as the one I use for gmail purposes (yes, i hold 
an account, used infrequently) and I don't particularly want the two tied 
together.

1) Interested to know if anyone else on NANOG has noted this behavior,

2) If anyone from Google or Gmail is represented on NANOG you may like to 
take a serious look into this... likewise i'd appreciate hearing back (off 
list) to confirm i've been removed from the group below and that you're 
considering improving your subscription mechanics!

Cheers
Mark.

  harpreet1977 at gmail.com has added you to the hackers a to z group with 
this
message:

Fed up with worms, viruses and hackers messing with your computer? Want to
know how they do it? How to defend? How to fight back? "You take the blue 
pill
and the story ends.... Take the red pill and I'll show you how deep the 
rabbit
hole goes," hackers-a-to-z at googlegroups.com

Here is the group's description:

Fed up with worms, viruses and hackers messing with your computer? Want to
know how they do it? How to defend? How to fight back?"You take the blue 
pill
and the story ends.... Take the red pill and I'll show you how deep the 
rabbit
hole goes". Group Manager :Harpreet Singh Ahluwalia

  ----------------------- Google Groups Information ----------------------

The owner of the group has set your subscription type as "Email", meaning 
that
you'll receive a copy of every message posted to the group as they are 
posted.

  To view this group on the web, or edit your subscription, you will need 
to
create a Google Account by going to:

*url snipped*

  Visit this group on the web by using this URL:

  http://groups.google.co.in/group/hackers-a-to-z

  You can unsubscribe from this group using the following URL:

*url snipped*

  -------------------- Information About This Message --------------------

  If you feel that this message is abuse, please inform the Google Groups 
staff
by using the URL below.
*url snipped*