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FTC vs. Open Relays, round 2

Posted by michael on from the drop-in-the-bucket dept.

mbrain writes "PC World is reporting on a new federal program run by the FTC to close relays and proxies that serve as spam gateways. It's called 'Operation Secure Your Server'. The FTC will publicize this program by... sending tens of thousands of emails." I think it's a continuation of this program.

1 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN AS "DIMWITTED" by Grym · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    What a stupid analogy! If you leave your house unlocked, the only person likely to be hurt by it is you when you come home and find your stereo, PC, and TV gone. If you leave an open relay, you potentially hurt many innocent third parties. If you want a better analogy, it's like the government telling you that you can't leave a loaded shotgun on a picnic bench in a public park.

    Gimme a break! A loaded shotgun!? Since when has spam resulted in the direct injury or death of a person? In your own words, "what a stupid analogy!" Spam may be an annoyance. Hell, it may even be a legal liability or cost at WORST, but I think everybody needs to step back and realize: it's just E-mail.

    What amazes me is how half of the slashdot crowd cheers on E-mail worms like MyDoom and the one that took down Windows Update, but then suggest people all but lynch the owners of open relays.

    -Grym