I wonder what would happen if we did something fairly simple but drastic -- change the Internet protocols used to route E-mail. It would require people to run Windows update or rebuild their operating systems, but could put technological means to block spam in place.
People are working on several extensions and replacements for SMTP in the standards groups, but there's a substantial skepticism that SMTP will easily be replaceable, and even if it is it won't happen soon; we're having a hard enough time to transition from IPv4 to IPv6. Incidentally, it wouldn't be an OS-level issue, but rather an application (mailer) and server (SMTP daemon) issue. I'd like to see it happen; SMTP is a 20+ year old protocol that was envisioned to be used with open networks. It's amazing it still works OK, but it's clear the cracks are showing given new usage patterns.
I refused to let my email fall victim to the clutches of a processed pork product. To do it, I signed up for SpamArrest at Spamarrest.com. It's a challenge/authentication system where people send you an email and get a challenge back. If they don't respond, I never see the mail.
Ahh, but there IS a solution to this, as another, earlier responder noted. I too got tired of spam, and went to www.mailblocks.com. It's a challenge/response system, but has some pretty cool perks. One is "trackers" where you can create disposable email addresses for ordering stuff, or newsgroups, or whatever. And those can then be redirected whereever you want. To address the valid frustration Jason has, the default for trackers is to NOT challenge/response them. They're created specifically for ordering stuff on the internet and discussion groups. It works great.
Example: Let's say I subscribe to five different newsgroups. Well, I could open up a separate tracker for each one, then direct all of those incoming messages to one folder, so I only have to go one folder to read them. If I say, start to get spam at my kzemach-ppcthoughts1@mailblocks.com address, I throw it away, update my address at ppcthoughts to kzemach-ppcthoughts2@mailblocks.com.
In addition to having multiple email addresses, each one can be independently rerouted to certain folders, or challenge/responsed or NOT! My choice. So, I've got one tracker for my "accounts" (Bank, mortgage, credit card, etc), one for my newsgroups, one for ordering stuff off the internet (the one that gets thrown out and changed the most), one for discussion groups, one for work (I have all my work email diverted to my mailblocks account), one for a business I'm thinking of starting, one for my old Yahoo account, and the inbox for my personal emails.
Since you can upload your address book, those people will never get challenged, so it makes it easy on your friends. And you can keep your old email address so you don't even have to tell your friends your email address has changed. Almost none of my friends even know that I use mailblocks!
But, it gets better. I can send out emails FROM any of these accounts, including my work account, so with one interface I can do my work, personal, and ordering emails.
Oh, and I forgot, I get no spam. But, I do pay. And I am guessing that in the future one will always be able to pay to avoid spam. You can do it right now with mailblocks! Those who choose not to pay will have to sift spam. Sort of like pay tv vs. free tv. I, personally, so no problem with spam, although I don't like the inefficiency it adds to the network overhead.
I wonder what would happen if we did something fairly simple but drastic -- change the Internet protocols used to route E-mail. It would require people to run Windows update or rebuild their operating systems, but could put technological means to block spam in place.
People are working on several extensions and replacements for SMTP in the standards groups, but there's a substantial skepticism that SMTP will easily be replaceable, and even if it is it won't happen soon; we're having a hard enough time to transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
But IPv6 is a fundamental change to the Internet infrastructure, isn't it? Changing the E-mail protocol won't be quite so radical. People will still be able to browse, FTP, read newsgroups, etc. At least that's my hope. :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Incidentally, it wouldn't be an OS-level issue, but rather an application (mailer) and server (SMTP daemon) issue.
I'm no networking wonk, but I thought there might have to be OS upgrades to the TCP/IP stack, WinSock or something like that. If users only need a new E-mail client, it might even be easier.
My understanding is that the main need in a new E-mail system is authenticating users. We don't want people to be able to spoof headers; we may still get spam, but, if we can find out who really sent it, it will be easier to complain to their ISP and get them prosecuted using anti-spam legislation.
Another "solution" would be to cut off E-mail from known spam havens, like Korea and China. The backbone systems could just reject E-mail from those places.
Only problem with that, is that I was reading that something like 70% of all spam originated from within the US itself........
Another "solution" would be to cut off E-mail from known spam havens, like Korea and China. The backbone systems could just reject E-mail from those places.
Only problem with that, is that I was reading that something like 70% of all spam originated from within the US itself........
Well, a 30% reduction in spam would be good. :-D Plus, maybe other countries could cut the U.S. off if they're getting spam from us. :lol:
However, when you say "originated", does that mean where the person sending it actually is from, or does that mean the mail server it appeared to originate from? If I'm in the U.S., but use an open mail server in China or Korea to send the spam from, cutting them off would still reduce the spam.
OK, from memory the figures were slightly off, but only just :wink: :
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UNCTAD estimates that the majority of spam victims are in the USA but it also says that in March 2003 the USA was the source of 58.4% of spam, followed at a great distance by China (5.6%), the United Kingdom (5.2%), Brazil (4.9%) and Canada (4.1%).
Re: E-mail Isolation
Linear Mode
