BRILLIANT! YOU THE MAN!! Paul (shouting)
-------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Doug Brewer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > The PDML server has landed back on the SpamCop blacklist, and I'm sure > others (haven't checked yet). This has been somewhat of a puzzlement to > me, because with SpamCop it has to be reported. Since it's a closed > list, and the only recipients have to =ask= to get the email, who would > report it as spam? hmmm... > > So yesterday I'm staring at the screen, and it comes to me. The server > =is= sending out spam. The script I have to reject HTML/enriched > text/etc sends back a bounce message. Many of you have seen these > messages-- "please send your message in Plain Text.."-- so you'll know > what happened to your message. > > The problem here is that an incredible amount of real spam bombards the > list address daily. Most of it is enriched in some way. And here is the > key: spammers generally use spoofed (fake) return addresses to make > themselves harder to track. The addresses used are generally legit > addresses with spam blocking enabled. > > So... > > When the PDML server bounces the spam, it doesn't go back to the > spammer, it goes, in all its enriched glory, to the address listed in > the headers, thus ticking off spam filters worldwide and being reported > to the various blacklists. > > My task today is to adjust the bounce procedure to not include the > original message, or, failing that, to just eat the offending message > and not responding at all. The downside to that, of course, will mean > that you must remember to set your PDML messages to Plain Text, or they > will just disappear. > > I hate to have to do that, but in the interest of better, more > consistent, delivery of the PDML traffic, I will. > > It is my fervent hope that my mucking about in the code will not > adversely affect the continued operation of the PDML server, but in the > event of an outage, I do have everything backed up as a Plan B list, and > can switch to that while I continue working. > > And speaking of work, I have to do all this while also attempting to > accomplish real work-related work while I am here at work. (!) > > Thanks for your patience and continued support, > > Doug > List Guy > now, what happens is I push =this= button...? > > > mike wilson wrote: > > .... since about middle of the evening yesterday - about 12 hours ago. > > > > Archive seems to be working, so I know the list is functioning in some way. > > > > Is it something I said? > > > > mike >

