Slashdot Mirror
Long-Dead ORDB Begins Returning False Positives
Chapter80 writes "At noon today (Eastern Standard Time), the long dead ORDB spam identification system began returning false positives as a way to get sleeping users to remove the ORDB query from their spam filters. The net effect: all mail is blocked on servers still configured to use the ORDB service, which was taken out of commission in December of 2006. So if you're not getting any mail, check your spam filter configuration!"
As much as we can rail against stupid mail admins, I think it would not be remiss of us to remember that the ultimate sufferers are end users who probably have no idea what their mail server administrator is doing. In other words, this hurts the people who *rely* on mail administrators, not the mail administrators. For that reason, I think ORDB is doing the wrong thing. This is yet another reason why privately owned spam registrars like ORDB are a bad idea; they just do not understand the either the gravity of what they are doing, nor do they have the responsibility to take it seriously. If you are doing something on such a large scale, it is inevitable that there will always be stragglers. Don't get all indignant about how "dumb mail admins" should know better unless you know that all your utility providers abide by the latest best industry practices in their respective fields.
On a side note, given that this move by ORDB specifically targets people other than those who they want to change the behaviour of in an attempt to get those innocent bystanders to affect change upon the real people they want to affect, this actually meets the FBI's definition of terrorism.
I hate printers.
Saying "A girlfriend? Proof positive that he's not a regular /. reader" is modded Insightful? Since every mention of "girlfriend" receives this response like clockwork, Redundant seemed more appropriate... Well then, I have some more Insightful tidbits for you:
Jocks are idiots.
Linux users have tiny penises.
Windows users are point-and-drool morons.
Mac users are artistic and gay and think overpriced computers are status symbols.
Business execs and politicians don't know fuck-all about computing or networking, but insist on controlling them anyway.
Women are shitty drivers (they themselves have fewer accidents, hence they receive a better insurance rate; they're shitty drivers because they do annoying shit that creates obstacles for others, like not knowing what the fuck the passing lane is for).
Black people are either from the ghetto, or act like they wish they were.
White people have zero sense of rhythm, can't dance, and can't jump.
Now where's my +5 Insightful?