On Mon, Feb 02, 2004, Alexander Samad wrote:
> Why not reject them at the rcpt command again just reject it.

In this situation, SMTP errors are no better than generating a bounce
after accepting the message:

Virus SMTP server ------> Relay SMTP server -------> My SMTP server

If a mail has come through a relay (someone's ISP's SMTP relay for
example, or an open relay, whatever), and I give a 5xx (permanent
failure SMTP code) then that relay is unable to pass on the SMTP error
because the original sender has disconnected at least 10 seconds before.
Thus the relay is forced to generate a bounce and send it to the
envelope from, which for most viruses is set to some poor sod who isn't
infected, and thus I've just added to the noise, not taken away from it.

As far as I know, there's no way I can guarentee that "this will tell
that stupid virus's SMTP server to go away" because I don't know if it's
a direct connection or a relayed mail.

-Mary
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