Something folks probably ought to know about.
above.net has (fairly recently, as far as I can tell), set up their
networks to block any IP traffic to sites that are listed in the RBL.
This has the side effect that any site downstream of them (I buy
network from wombatnet, which buys network from above.net, for
instance), is now controlled by the RBL, whether they want to be or
not.
Now while I support the RBL in theory, in practice, I have issues
with it (because, among other things, I know of too many cases,
including one I was indirectly involved in, where they tend to shoot
first and ask questions when the lawyers call), and I don't run it on
my machines. I now find it's irrelevant whether or not I run it;
worse, if someone decides they want to "get" me, or any other
downstream customer of above.net, they can attack us via the RBL.
In fact, today I had to remote access into work to access a web site
of a company to unsubscribe from a mailing list I was subscribed to
at home, because the mailing list was on an RBLed site, and I
couldn't access them via any protocol from home. I know that company
pretty well, and it doesn't spam, except under very tight-@ss
definitions of spam, but to put it bluntly, one or two tight-@ss can
get you loaded into the RBL, and then you're in deep. Especially if
you're downstream of above.net, and can't get to the RBL sites to
find out what's going on or work on resolving it... Sites on the
wrong side of this can literally be made to disappear without access
to fix it.
I'm not thrilled at this. I think blocking ALL traffic based on RBL
data is excessive (I'd be unhappy if they blocked SMTP, but I can
live with that), especially since the RBL is sometimes unreliable,
and their definition of bad-stuff isn't universally accepted by a
long shot. I've brought up these issues with my ISP, since I this is
a well-intentioned wrong-think.
I'm bringing it up here because I ran into it when subscribed members
of my lists started having mail back up for no reason, and it took me
a couple of days to track it down. Since above.net's fairly large and
blocks traffic bi-directionally and unilaterally, it could be
affecting everyone's delivery and mail queues as well. And if your
main network routes through above.net, you're at risk of a complete
blackout if someone decides to get you dumped into the RBL.
Something you might want to be aware of, folks... This might be
affecting you, and you don't know it. Which isn't a big deal if you
support the RBL yourself, but if you don't, you may find that you are
and didn't realize it.
chuq
--
Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'"
