Lead Scientist Responds to Questions on Root Server Queries

cidtoday writes "A CircleID interview with the lead scientist whose study recently revealed that 98% of a main root server queries are unnecessary, reveals that spam has little to do with the issue. In fact, he provides two reasons why anti-spam tools cause more unnecessary queries to the root servers than spam emails. Many other questions previously raised by Slashdot readers on the study are also answered."

Comments

we should stop using anti-spam tools

[Jeff Probst]

reveals that spam has little to do with the issue. In fact, he provides two reasons why anti-spam tools cause more unnecessary queries to the root servers than spam emails.

So this is yet another reason not to block spam.

Not only do we delete legitimate mail when this anti-spam software gets a false negative, we place load on the fragile root servers.

Please stop using spam assassin, for the good of the Internet.

Don't complain -- FIX IT

[(1337) God]

We have enough geeks and articles about geeks who tinker with things to optimize them even though they work just fine the way they are.

The root server engineers are busy explaining why not to tinker with things that are clearly and inherently broken.

Don't complain about useless queries -- FIX THE SYSTEM.

They sure are unnecessary

[t0ny]

Im sure he is right about the 98%. One of my ISP's DNS server went down so much I just left it permanently pointed at the nearest root server. Hey, the mail must go through!