On Fri, Sep 28, 2001 at 09:53:45AM -0400, Holman C. Massey, Jr., PhD wrote: > That was not a very funny joke. I'm not surprised the perpetrator was > ashamed to put it out under his/her own name. Since this sort of > thing has happened several other times on the list, I'm wondering if > this information might be useful for the rest of us to have as well > if some of the more computer/internet savvy members of the list want > to speak up. > Holman
I'm not quite sure what you are referring to as a joke, but I can address the question of email identity and the list. The list server trusts that you are who you say you are. It doesn't have much choice. The protocols that handle email transfer (largely SMTP) do not have any mechanism for proving authorship. As a general rule, treat an email message with the same authority you would treat a typed and non-hand-signed note (i.e., signed by typewriter rather than by flourish of pen) that arrived in the mail. It's likely from whom it says it is, but you don't really know that. If you are concerned about verifying your identity or those of your correspondants, you have to use something cryptographic, like pgp or gpg. I recognize that this is overly abstract. On a practical matter, if someone is using your email id, you should be able to use the headers of the mail, along with your system administrator or ISP tech support staff, to trace the person to his ISP. None of these people is likely obliged to help unless a crime has been committed, but they might be nice and help anyway. -Jeff ps: I am responding somewhat administratively, since it concerns list policy. But this is relatively off-topic. I encourage (but do not enforce) follow-up to individuals (e.g., me) rather than to the list. > >does anyone have some info on what to do when someone is forging your > >account? > > > >please email offlist. > > > >thanks, > >kara > > > >btw - i dont use my email address as sender. > > > -- > Holman C. Massey, Jr., PhD > Department of Pathobiology > School of Veterinary Medicine > University of Pennsylvania > 3800 Spruce Street, Room 430 > Philadelphia, PA 19104-6008 > > Telephone: 215-573-4756 > FAX: 215-573-7023 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > Archive is at <http://www.mail-archive.com/>. -- Jeff Jeff Abrahamson <http://www.purple.com/jeff/> ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. Archive is at <http://www.mail-archive.com/>.
