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Reviving the Finger Protocol to Fight Spam?

Posted by Cliff on from the return-of-an-old-friend dept.

Greg asks: "Some will remember the finger protocol which is barely used now. Although this tool was useful in some case, today this tool would be a nice tool for spammers. However, could such be used against spam? Most spammer use bogus email, and most spam-fighters talk about changing SMTP is to implement a certificate system to make sure the sender is valid. While this is great, it'll require a complete re-write of the SMTP protocol, adoption and re-write of all software using SMTP. Wouldn't it be easier to use a 'finger'-like protocol? When receiving a mail we could check if the sender is valid or not. What people think about this?"

2 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. More RBL needed? by secolactico · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pretty soon somebody will set up a finger server that will simply respond to every query with a "valid user" response.

    Then you'll have to blackhole those servers.

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  2. kids and spam.. by zcat_NZ · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This makes me angry.

    I set up email for my 8yo daughter. The address has only ever appeared on kid-oriented websites. Here's some of the subject lines from messages spamassassin has caught recently;

    • Subject: RE: About your request of No.1 Teen Hardcore Site
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    • Subject: A New Stimulating Sensual Lubricant For Women (Discount Code #7181835)
    • Subject: CHAROLETTE'S pics 0123IjOv9-354-12
    • Subject: How to Boost Your Penis Size & Confidence username@ourISP.co.nz lpx
    • Subject: [Men Only]
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      Online Form hj:uqlm;ndiure;c cf;ikjc:

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