Overcoming MAPS Reverse-Lookup Oppression?

ArghBlarg asks: "Imagine the following scenario: you're the volunteer admin for a small, non-profit site for a few local artists and musicians. You run your web site and SMTP server out of your laundry room, via cable broadband. The broadband provider doesn't mind, as you only get a few hits a day; you keep your system secure and were only rooted once, over 4 years ago (hey, it happens). Your site has never, ever (to your knowledge) relayed spam. On the whole you've been an exemplary netizen. One day, some email you send bounces because your ISP's entire netblock has been placed on the MAPS DUL. True, your server's IP isn't technically static (though it hasn't changed in 12 months); because your domain is embedded within the broadband provider's larger IP block, reverse lookups don't give your domain name, rather that of the provider (with a huge number prefixed as the hostname). Hence you're considered a rogue SMTP node and blocked by MAPS. I've emailed MAPS but they won't agree to whitelist me. I have a proper MX record for my SMTP server, under my domain name. What can I do? Is there any way to make my legitimate domain take precedence in reverse-lookups, so I don't show up as being part of a spam-friendly network?" "Please don't bother suggesting that I ask my provider to give me a static IP outside the affected block -- they won't, not without upgrading to a MUCH more expensive package which gives me no benefit for a small-traffic server like this.

What have you done to get your domain, running on a pseudo-static IP, out from under the thumb of the spam block lists? While I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the MAPS people and others like them to stamp out the vermin that are spammers, our domain has become collateral damage in the war!"

Comments

Re:That sux

[Rick the Red]

But appart from changing isp, im not sure what else you can do :(

That's exactly what MAPS wants you to do -- change ISPs. They think that if everyone in your situation leaves your ISP, your ISP will go out of business and that's one less spam channel. Of course, this logic has proven false in the real world. Your short-term solution is indeed to change ISPs, but that won't give you any assurance this won't happen again. The only way to prevent a future occurance is to take out MAPS and their vigilante cousins. One way is legally - you could sue them, or write your Congressperson and ask for email anti-terror legislation (because, let's face it, MAPS is engaged in email terrorism to achieve their goals).

Or you could find their address and fire bomb them. If they ever mess with me again, that's the route I plan to take. I tried the other approaches and they don't work.

Either that, or make zombies of a few thousand Windows boxes (it's easy) and launce a DOS attack on MAPS. That might work, but I still think firebombs is your best option. Mod this "troll" or "flamebait" but you know I'm right.