-----Original Message----- Subject: Re: Lot of Bouncing mail >> A friend and I were discussing the anti-spam laws recently introduced >> and we both decided that it will not work, mostly because it has no >> automatic mechanism to deter counterfeiting and lacks any funding for >> investigation and prosecution.
>[snip] >> >> This seems like an obvious solution, so I am curious to hear the down >> side possibilities. >> >Right. The downside. >The US is not the world, and the laws vary worldwide. The US postal service, backed by US law, currently accepts Postage Stamps from every nation. I assume that we also coordinate enforcement of Postal Fraud between countries as well. Eventually, I expect that a global treaty regarding some form of evolved electronic mail system will be instituted to be used for "official" electronic mail. > I am getting spam > from people in China who hire their smtp servers out to spammers by the > hour; I get it from Brazilians hiding behind a very uncooperative and > slothful apnic.net, which effectively masks the users of IP numbers; I > get some from Belgium with complex masquerades and networking magic > that leaves it's origin a mystery. A uniform authenticated approach would be nice. > The common thread is a legitimate gateway onto the network. The common thread, I assume, is the means by which anyone anywhere can send anything to anybody at any time, at little or no expense? Huh... I don't understand why we have problems ;) > All such, in > your scenario, would set up mail servers to your new protocol, and all > the effort would be wasted. Apnic.net would have a secure e-mail server > sending spam from a company whose registration was not yet listed, and > who would be delisted in three months, before any registration appeared > in their database. Ditto the Chinese, etc, etc. My scenario would require/allow governments to offer an alternative server that people can opt to use for "official" secure certified email. ISP's would be encouraged to subscribe to this service and ensure that their users adhere to the usage agreement. Anyone attempting to abuse the system would be subject to federal law, or expedition under international treaty (same as current postal laws allow). A reasonable fee would be charged to provide funds for implementation and enforcement (similar to US Mail). > Microsoft would make it's own insecure non standard version of the code; > linux guys would have the protocol parfect, modify their software to > accomodate the nonstandard m$ version as well It would cost you an > arm and a leg for the m$ program. This would be an excuse to obsolete > all previous versions of windoze. The linux one would be free, of > course. Private vendors are free to compete against one another and their government counterparts, as they always have, by providing alternatives. The US Postal Service would be the only service backed specifically by federal laws and bound by international treaties, thereby making it "official" (protected). Unfortunately, as frightening as it sounds, what our current email system lacks is a layer of bureaucracy to protect it from abuse. Oh well... welcome to the real world. As always, just my 2 cents (2.75 cents in Canadian) Roger -- Author: Roger Morella INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
