Sorry guys, I haven't yet worked my way through the protocols of this list. I see only the individual sender as source.
Ashley Maddox sent a message about possible spam from SpamAssassin. I won't duplicate my answer, I know something of it. But I got a bounce for the address for Ashley, which may have nothing to do with her (it may be the spammer). That address was [EMAIL PROTECTED] (and if that don't look like a spam address I don't know what does - BTW, .ru is probably Rumania). Look at the extension on the URL, there are "country codes" accepted by the international powers that be for the extension. (For instance, the South Pacific island of Tuvalo is making a few bucks for its treasury by selling the extension .tv, which sounds like TV, to vendors of television services). I have emailed my server (I have my own domain run by a gentleman I've worked with for many years), and I'll come back with the legitimacy of this message from SpamAssassin. If my previous got through to the list I'd like to know, as I'm not sure the routing of this list yet. But the basic "gen" on spam is whether you use the internet or not, and whether you are on a server with enough customers, or on an on line service such as AOL or MSN (those latter are not ISPs, and are not directly on the internet as such, but they provide access to it, both in and out). Their lists are attractive mass connections for the bad guys, and any system can be compromised. But each of them use proprietary software to protect their customers, so if you are on one of them don't go buying any virus or spam protection from third parties, go through them. Now I'll take myself, just as an example of the other extreme. I have my own registered domain (murphsays.com), and have had it for about eight years. I connect through my local cable company, but I don't use their domain name or their services (I should get a discount for that). They are my ISP, my connection. Many of you have ISPs who are not only the connection but also the server - in fact most of you. Be it Earthlink or whatever. Each of those ISPs has a numeric computer address that defines the final location (them, not you), then when you log in you have a connection into their server that is a part of their domain. In my case (and it costs money) I am my own numerical domain (the world wide web isn't a system, it is a road map to the real domains). There are only two people on my domain, myself and my lady (each a separate name before the @ sign). I get about fifty to a hundred spams a night, she gets none. The reason is that she has never used her account on my domain to order on the internet (Web). And I've used mine often for woodworking tools and other legitimate things. The answer to the implied question is that if you are an invisible member of a small domain (as is my lady) you'll not be found. But if you are a small member of a large domain they'll break the code and find you, or if you use the internet (Web map) to order you will be found. The economics are such that there is no cost to sending a million messages, and if ten pay you ten dollars you just made a hundred. As a retired consultant on the topic I have a lot of suggestions, none appropriate to the Lute List. (But not in bad language, I mean real economic suggestions). Let me know if my first to Ashley got through, and sorry I rambled on. These lists of people of particular interest should be confined to the members, and the guests of good will. It is a shame that the question of tied gut frets should get confused with some other aspects of our guts, and it is not insoluable. Best, Jon
