So the answer is simple, make it easier and cheaper for people to buy in your store than online...or face bankruptcy.
That is becoming impossible.
How can 'meatspace' music retailers compete with low-cost, web-based online music providers like iTunes or 'just plain free' via the P2P networks like Kazaa or the former (in)famous Napster?
The physical music industry have begun to 'circle their wagons' to try to cut their losses with the introduction of copy-protected music CDs. This technique will not work as digital, infinitely copyable copies of such protected music can still be made via 'the analog hole' and two computers--one for playback and the other to record that playback. For the purists who can defeat the copy protection, usually as easy as 'holding the Shift key down', full digital fidelity is available in music replicated in the digital domain. These listeners will not knowingly buy a protected music CD for this reason--but they are in the minority who likely look down on those satisfied with slightly inferior analog-made copies as 'unwashed masses' who are 'easily duped' into buying protected music CDs. For example, one of Velvet Revolver's latest albums was a best-seller in spite of being released on a copy-protected CD. In short, a lot of people don't care about maximum fidelity when it comes to listening to (il)legally copied music....
Same thing goes for today's theatrical movie experiences--now degraded with the use of 'cap codes' in an effort to stop(?) movie piracy.
Didn't do a thing to stop it as, for example, Spiderman 2 (2004) was bootlegged and made available online on the very day the movie came out in theaters!
The music and movie industries are rightfully nervous about their declining fourtunes in the face of (un)authorized digital redistribution of their copyrighted works. Their solution is quite simple:
My primary email address is 16 characters, made from a couple German words strung together. I've got another one, which is my name @gmail.com, set up to redirect to my primary. If I ever start getting spam from that, I can discontinue use, and set up a new address, keeping the forwarding address secret. I have received zero pieces of spam in either to date. What's your excuse for getting spam?
That will work as long as use or the people you correspond with arent '0wned' by a mass-mail computer virus, an unwanted internet 'staple' if you are 'on Windows' like me. As for myself, I just filter my (non coforming) spam out via automatic deletion.
The only time I get spam now is if I temporarily 'lower' my filter for a good reason or some spammer sends me a 'no content' spam with an *EMPTY* message body--pathetic. All I'd have to do is extend the same filtering technique to the email subject line and even the pathetic 'no content' spams are history. The only place left for spammers to spam would be in 'X-Headers:' headers in the email headers--who reads those unless you are trying to track down a spammer (don't bother--shut down/block the spamvertised site instead and cut off the spammer's future money supply).
Using your approach just means you are (temporarily?) hiding from spam via an alias. You and your correspondents are still vulnerable as mentioned above if you are 'on Windows' like I am and using Outlook as your email client--something I practically only use to send outgoing messages only.
If you are a good enough programmer and intimately familliar with your programming tools, and have a library of small bits of 'single-purpose-single-function-like' code that has been previously proven to work, you can literially 'build' a correctly working program according to the design specifications in a short amount of time with NO need for flowcharts or other non-productive busywork. Just add the program documentation to the program itself as a comment block. In lieu of a flowchart, comment the program profusely so it's method of operation is clearly known to all who read the source code for it.
If you cannot 'see' it, you will have difficulty as a programmer because it will be difficult or arduous for you to grasp both the 'big picture' and the 'fine detail' required for all non-trivial computer programming projects.
Those 600 purported North Korea computer crackers are NO MATCH against software programs coded to not trust the user or their input unless it's *absolutely* correct.
Unfortunately, there is ALMOST NO DEFENSE against a computer cracker impersonating a legitimate user located at an authorized TCP/IP address that TRACEROUTEs to it in an authentic fashion presenting legitimate system logon credentials in order to infiltrate and compromise a computer system.
There is also ALMOST NO DEFENSE against a 'botnet' launched against the target computer system in the above fashion in order to overwhelm the target system and exhaust their computing resources in the 'classic' Denial-Of-Service style.
Since it is IMPOSSIBLE for the target computer system to tell the difference between a legitimate user and a 'evil computer cracker' who is correctly and successfully impersonating a legitimate user, it is up to the target system's system operators and administrators in 'meatspace' to monitor their systems closely for anything anomolous--no matter how small or insignificant. Case in point: Clifford Stohl's celebrated true-life tale of computer security documented in his book, The Cuckoo's Egg. I read the book when it first came out back in the early 1990s all in one sitting--it took HOURS but was worth it! I even saw the NOVA show based on the book. This book should be required reading by all conscientious people in the computer security industry. If all computer networks were ran by people with the dedication, intelligence, and tenacity of people like Clifford Stohl, computer crackers wouldn't stand much of a chance performing their mischief in cyberspace.
Unfortunately, this would then move the problem into 'meatspace' like never before--with such things as 'line cuts' and 'social engineering' to gain access to the computer systems and networks they want to disrupt, compromise, and/or disable.
Thus, it is up to the computer system operation, administration, support, and security personnel to be conscientious and ever vigilant to thwart these threats--whether they are paid well or barely enough to make ends meet.
If you *TRULY* care about your job in this capacity in the computing industry, the amount of your pay *DOESN'T* dictate the level of your dedication and attention to your job.
Re:Google hacks a better option...-my google fix
on
Web Search Garage
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
Unfortunately all of the "-'s" in the world can't fix google now that its been ruined by marketers of consumer electronics.
It's quite simple really....
Since Google appears to be nearing their 4GB page index limit, do this:
Delete ALL (YES *ALL*) indexed webpages except the homepage.
Added to that, Google has already been 'spamdexed' by online retailers -- 'about 1,650,000 pages' indexed by Google from one particular online retail giant's domain alone!
This approach will also kill off all pages like this: http://www.example.com/~ispcustomer/
and make it harder, for example, to find useful info in a particular labyrinthine website I freqent via Google on an ongoing basis as needed.
For the 'ispcustomers': if you truly value your information in such a context, buy a.com domain and point it to your webspace at your ISP or, better yet, host your info at the domain itself. End of story.
Then the next thing that could be done is to make it easy to report 'spamdexed' domains and 'link farms' so they can ALL be automatically purged from the Google database as needed. To avoid 'Joe Jobs', this purging does not extend to the domains listed on the pages hosted at the offending domains.
Problem solved.
It would be helpful if Google implemented these changes--if possible. If not, a brand-new search engine using these techniques above and some kind of 'PageRank' algorithm that is better than the one that Google came up with will become in part the fabled 'Google-killer' as Google still has the assest of the 'entire' USENET archive dating back to 1981 if I am not mistaken.
"Nothing in the Constitution compels us to listen to or view any unwanted communication, whatever its merit. We categorically reject the argument that a vendor has a right under the Constitution or otherwise to send unwanted material into the home of another. If this prohibition operates to impede the flow of even valid ideas, the answer is that no one has a right to press even 'good' ideas on an unwilling recipient. The asserted right of a mailer, we repeat, stops at the outer boundary of every person's domain." -- Chief Justice Warren Berger, U.S. Supreme Court
Although this decision was based on the postal mail system, the principle should hold with ANY communications medium. As for me, I simply leave my phone unplugged when I am not using it--the BEST application of 'Do-Not-Call' I can think of short of not having a phone at all.
Added to that, Google has already been 'spamdexed' by online retailers -- 'about 1,670,000 pages' indexed by Google from one particular online retail giant's domain alone!
This approach will also kill off all pages like this: http://www.example.com/~ispcustomer/
and make it harder, for example, to find useful info in a particular labyrinthine website I freqent via Google on an ongoing basis as needed.
For the 'ispcustomers': if you truly value your information in such a context, buy a.com domain and point it to your webspace at your ISP or, better yet, host your info at the domain itself. End of story.
Then the next thing that could be done is to make it easy to report 'spamdexed' domains and 'link farms' so they can ALL be automatically purged from the Google database as needed. To avoid 'Joe Jobs', this purging does not extend to the domains listed on the pages hosted at the offending domains.
(Caution: 11.8 MB MP3 File. DO NOT download if you are not a techno/electronia/trance/videogame/anime music fan. Please do not waste Tommie's bandwidth.)
at
http://www.tommie.nu
I first heard this played at Digitally Imported, liked it, and downloaded it. Though it incorporates music from Konami's 'Metal Gear Solid 2' (and possibly could be construed as infringement =/ ), the track is excellent to listen to--I am listening to it now as I type this post....
My exposure to this track was done without the 'help' of a major recording lablel and thus is in keeping with the 'Music is about people' quote above.
Stop bellyaching and stock up on non-drm PC stuff.
While you are at it, simply do not buy any DRM-encumbered PC hardware (provided the vendors reveal this fact in their advertising). Use the only language the hardware vendors understand: money talks!
Should the internet 'go-DRM' and non-DRM PCs are 'locked out', bring back the good old days of BBSes and Fidonet which was, if I am not mistaken, an 'internet' comprised of networked, always connected BBSes.
When are people going to stop allowing the networks to shove this filth down their throats?
Won't hapen. Reality TV shows are cheap to make and are (usually) profitable. Just look at the success of the TV shows COPS,Survivor and it's coincidental big-screen 'offspring' Cast Away (2000).
Well anyway, I think the reason why Reality TV is so popular is due to the part of a vicarious desire to either live life in a manner depicted on the reality show (The Osbournes ) or see how 'the other half lives'. The current crop of Reality TV shows probably owe their existence to the long-running MTV Reality TV show The Real World.
Before advances in medicine came about starting about 200-odd years ago with the likes of Edward Jenner, people in general never lived past their 30s and 40s. Nowadays, that usually isn't the case.
What is one to do? Allow 'natural selection' to 'thin the herd' or use the accumulated medical knowledge on those individuals who would have been 'thinned out' by 'natural selection'?
In a way, this is done by the HMOs when authorizing medical treatments to their clients. The incentive is to save money by rationing health care to go to those patients where they think it will do the most good and is cost effective. Could this be considered a form of 'natural selection'?
Re:Price Comparison Chart (VoIP in U.S.)-GOATSE!!!
on
VoIP Price War Declared
·
· Score: -1, Offtopic
Why is my post moded down as redundant?
What is one to do in this case?
Mod 'goatse' posts down (and waste mod points)
Email the admins about it (why bother them about it?)
Or use 'Anonymous Coward' mode to warn readers about such posts
If this is going to be a civil debate, the last paragraph of my post is my summation, I can't think of anything more to add to it as I think it contains the solution to this problem.
Presumably, if the livestock were not kept in deplorable 'factory farming' conditions, the antibiotics and whatnot would not be needed and the bugs wouldn't become resistant to them if they weren't used in the first place. In this case, when they are used to treat someone's illness, the treatment should be effective.
Do you have a cogent rebuttal to my conclusion(s)?
Re:Price Comparison Chart (VoIP in U.S.)-GOATSE!!!
on
VoIP Price War Declared
·
· Score: -1, Redundant
DO NOT CLICK PIC!!!
You have been warned!...
Before the original 'goatse.cx' site was taken down, I got tricked into viewing this site via an amazon.com link redirect. Fiendish and clever....
I'm not wasting a mod point to mod this 'Troll'....
While everyone else goes gaga over SpamAssassin 3.0 and whatnot, I've gone from barely restrained outrage over spammers/computer crackers to now feeling rather sorry for them as they are wasting their time and resources sending me their garbage to me at iamcf13@hotpop.com -- I'll (effectively) never see it. It would be nice if I could use my mailserver program directly and avoid even having to download the crap as it would 'autodelete' it for me.... =/
On the issue of evolution itself: the moment a Creationist asks for another antibiotic because they have a resistant bacterial infection, they are dealing with natural selection in real time. Disbelief in evolution won't save you from its effects.
Here, I would argue that society (really Big Business) caused this situation. I have heard that livestock is 'pumped' up with all sorts of stuff to keep them healthy in deplorable factory farming conditions before they are slaughtered and sold for food. This stuff (antibiotics and whatnot) kills off the weaker bugs and makes the survivors stronger and able to resist that kind of medicine. When someone is infected by these bugs it is very difficult to treat them because 'nothing works'.
Presumably, if the livestock were not kept in deplorable 'factory farming' conditions, the antibiotics and whatnot would not be needed and the bugs wouldn't become resistant to them if they weren't used in the first place. In this case, when they are used to treat someone's illness, the treatment should be effective.
Sounds like a great way to block legitimate email. : \
All you need is ONE TCP/IP connection to a remote SMTP server to transfer email. That is what my mailserver does when it sends email to remote mailservers. Sad to say, allowing more than one TCP/IP connection per remote IP address nowadays is just asking for spam!... (>_<);;;
How is the quality on those DVDs from Blockbuster? I have rented so many scratched until they were unwatchable DVDs from Blockbuster that I am afraid to even consider buying the Pre-viewed ones.
Do what I do:
ASK to look at the DVD BEFORE you rent it. Case in point: I passed up 4 scratched-up copies of Kill Bill Vol. 2 before I came across a copy that likely will work properly.
All Blockbuster Video (and all other DVD rental places) have to do is to 'quality control' the DVD rental returns. Currently all they do now is just make sure they got the right title in the right protective case. If they take a few extra seconds to cull badly scratched up DVDs, they would head off a lot of grief experienced by customers trying to watch a scratched up, 'skippy' DVD in the comfort of their home.
If current antispam technologies just move a message to a spam folder, which we have to check its full quantity of messages to make sure there isn't a false positive, then where is the improvement?
My approach 'autodeletes' spam and malware either before or after it reaches your email inbox. The user sets the criteria to use and any email containing any unwanted content is summarily delted.
Modern spamming software is highly multithreaded and will continue sending thousands of emails even if it's being actively tarpitted by several servers.
My mailserver tarpits and disconnects multithreaded spamware connecting to it from the same IP address. That is to say it strictly enforces a '1 connection only' limit. Unfortunately, if it is 'attacked' by a unblacklisted zombie spamnet, it will have to use other measures available within itself to slow down these machines and ultimately 'autodelete' the spam they spew.
An old college professor of mine once said: "There is no such thing as a perfect programmer. Those that think they are, are either a fool or a liar."
Isn't this a perfect program written by a perfect programmer?
C:\>debug -a 100 134C:0100 int 20 134C:0102 -nbak2dos.com -rcx CX 0000:2 -w Writing 00002 bytes -q
C:\>bak2dos
C:\>
Of course, this kind of perfection depends on Intel and Microsoft. It appears my 'do nothing' program does just that. If it doesn't, blame it on Intel and Microsoft.
Of course, according to Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong either by accident, design, or (malicious) intent. Because of this, programmers (like me) should both code programs simply AND put themselves in the user's/badguy's shoes and try to anticipate potential problems and add sufficent code to deal with them beforehand.
As a result of this approach to programming, I had to make 2 quick updates to my software some time ago to solve two problems rather than 'lots and lots' of updates--why force the users to be beta testers when you don't have to?
FACT: It is NOT easy to write worthwhile, non-trivial software....
Slashdot Mirror
Just like http://www.slashdor.org/ - 8 popups and a salespitch for the domain. There is no real content there so don't bother visiting it.
That is becoming impossible.
How can 'meatspace' music retailers compete with low-cost, web-based online music providers like iTunes or 'just plain free' via the P2P networks like Kazaa or the former (in)famous Napster?
The physical music industry have begun to 'circle their wagons' to try to cut their losses with the introduction of copy-protected music CDs. This technique will not work as digital, infinitely copyable copies of such protected music can still be made via 'the analog hole' and two computers--one for playback and the other to record that playback. For the purists who can defeat the copy protection, usually as easy as 'holding the Shift key down', full digital fidelity is available in music replicated in the digital domain. These listeners will not knowingly buy a protected music CD for this reason--but they are in the minority who likely look down on those satisfied with slightly inferior analog-made copies as 'unwashed masses' who are 'easily duped' into buying protected music CDs. For example, one of Velvet Revolver's latest albums was a best-seller in spite of being released on a copy-protected CD. In short, a lot of people don't care about maximum fidelity when it comes to listening to (il)legally copied music....
Same thing goes for today's theatrical movie experiences--now degraded with the use of 'cap codes' in an effort to stop(?) movie piracy.
Didn't do a thing to stop it as, for example, Spiderman 2 (2004) was bootlegged and made available online on the very day the movie came out in theaters!
The music and movie industries are rightfully nervous about their declining fourtunes in the face of (un)authorized digital redistribution of their copyrighted works. Their solution is quite simple:
Adapt or go out of business.
That will work as long as use or the people you correspond with arent '0wned' by a mass-mail computer virus, an unwanted internet 'staple' if you are 'on Windows' like me. As for myself, I just filter my (non coforming) spam out via automatic deletion.
The only time I get spam now is if I temporarily 'lower' my filter for a good reason or some spammer sends me a 'no content' spam with an *EMPTY* message body--pathetic. All I'd have to do is extend the same filtering technique to the email subject line and even the pathetic 'no content' spams are history. The only place left for spammers to spam would be in 'X-Headers:' headers in the email headers--who reads those unless you are trying to track down a spammer (don't bother--shut down/block the spamvertised site instead and cut off the spammer's future money supply).
Using your approach just means you are (temporarily?) hiding from spam via an alias. You and your correspondents are still vulnerable as mentioned above if you are 'on Windows' like I am and using Outlook as your email client--something I practically only use to send outgoing messages only.
Ironic that Douglas Adams's solution to 'Life, the Universe, and Everything' would have something to do with diamonds, isn't it?
To paraphrase Field Of Dreams (1989) I say software development can be as simple as:
If you can 'see' it, you can code it.
Let me explain.
If you are a good enough programmer and intimately familliar with your programming tools, and have a library of small bits of 'single-purpose-single-function-like' code that has been previously proven to work, you can literially 'build' a correctly working program according to the design specifications in a short amount of time with NO need for flowcharts or other non-productive busywork. Just add the program documentation to the program itself as a comment block. In lieu of a flowchart, comment the program profusely so it's method of operation is clearly known to all who read the source code for it.
If you cannot 'see' it, you will have difficulty as a programmer because it will be difficult or arduous for you to grasp both the 'big picture' and the 'fine detail' required for all non-trivial computer programming projects.
Those 600 purported North Korea computer crackers are NO MATCH against software programs coded to not trust the user or their input unless it's *absolutely* correct.
Unfortunately, there is ALMOST NO DEFENSE against a computer cracker impersonating a legitimate user located at an authorized TCP/IP address that TRACEROUTEs to it in an authentic fashion presenting legitimate system logon credentials in order to infiltrate and compromise a computer system.
There is also ALMOST NO DEFENSE against a 'botnet' launched against the target computer system in the above fashion in order to overwhelm the target system and exhaust their computing resources in the 'classic' Denial-Of-Service style.
Since it is IMPOSSIBLE for the target computer system to tell the difference between a legitimate user and a 'evil computer cracker' who is correctly and successfully impersonating a legitimate user, it is up to the target system's system operators and administrators in 'meatspace' to monitor their systems closely for anything anomolous--no matter how small or insignificant. Case in point: Clifford Stohl's celebrated true-life tale of computer security documented in his book, The Cuckoo's Egg. I read the book when it first came out back in the early 1990s all in one sitting--it took HOURS but was worth it! I even saw the NOVA show based on the book. This book should be required reading by all conscientious people in the computer security industry. If all computer networks were ran by people with the dedication, intelligence, and tenacity of people like Clifford Stohl, computer crackers wouldn't stand much of a chance performing their mischief in cyberspace.
Unfortunately, this would then move the problem into 'meatspace' like never before--with such things as 'line cuts' and 'social engineering' to gain access to the computer systems and networks they want to disrupt, compromise, and/or disable.
Thus, it is up to the computer system operation, administration, support, and security personnel to be conscientious and ever vigilant to thwart these threats--whether they are paid well or barely enough to make ends meet.
If you *TRULY* care about your job in this capacity in the computing industry, the amount of your pay *DOESN'T* dictate the level of your dedication and attention to your job.
It's quite simple really....
Since Google appears to be nearing their 4GB page index limit, do this:
Delete ALL (YES *ALL*) indexed webpages except the homepage.
Example:
Why index:
http://www.example.com/
http://subdomain.examp
http://www.example.com/thispage/
http://
When all you really need to index is just:
http://www.example.com/
Added to that, Google has already been 'spamdexed' by online retailers -- 'about 1,650,000 pages' indexed by Google from one particular online retail giant's domain alone!
This approach will also kill off all pages like this:
http://www.example.com/~ispcustomer/
and make it harder, for example, to find useful info in a particular labyrinthine website I freqent via Google on an ongoing basis as needed.
For the 'ispcustomers': if you truly value your information in such a context, buy a
Then the next thing that could be done is to make it easy to report 'spamdexed' domains and 'link farms' so they can ALL be automatically purged from the Google database as needed. To avoid 'Joe Jobs', this purging does not extend to the domains listed on the pages hosted at the offending domains.
Problem solved.
It would be helpful if Google implemented these changes--if possible. If not, a brand-new search engine using these techniques above and some kind of 'PageRank' algorithm that is better than the one that Google came up with will become in part the fabled 'Google-killer' as Google still has the assest of the 'entire' USENET archive dating back to 1981 if I am not mistaken.
Quote from UXN Spam Combat
Although this decision was based on the postal mail system, the principle should hold with ANY communications medium. As for me, I simply leave my phone unplugged when I am not using it--the BEST application of 'Do-Not-Call' I can think of short of not having a phone at all.
It's quite simple really....
l e.com/w ww.example.com/thatpage/
.com domain and point it to your webspace at your ISP or, better yet, host your info at the domain itself. End of story.
Since Google appears to be nearing their 4GB page index limit, do this:
Delete ALL (YES *ALL*) indexed webpages except the homepage.
Example:
Why index:
http://www.example.com/
http://subdomain.examp
http://www.example.com/thispage/
http://
When all you really need to index is just:
http://www.example.com/
Added to that, Google has already been 'spamdexed' by online retailers -- 'about 1,670,000 pages' indexed by Google from one particular online retail giant's domain alone!
This approach will also kill off all pages like this:
http://www.example.com/~ispcustomer/
and make it harder, for example, to find useful info in a particular labyrinthine website I freqent via Google on an ongoing basis as needed.
For the 'ispcustomers': if you truly value your information in such a context, buy a
Then the next thing that could be done is to make it easy to report 'spamdexed' domains and 'link farms' so they can ALL be automatically purged from the Google database as needed. To avoid 'Joe Jobs', this purging does not extend to the domains listed on the pages hosted at the offending domains.
Problem solved.
Below is an example of that, I think.
http://tommie.nu/music/Tommie_-_Son_of_Liberty.
(Caution: 11.8 MB MP3 File. DO NOT download if you are not a techno/electronia/trance/videogame/anime music fan. Please do not waste Tommie's bandwidth.)
at
http://www.tommie.nu
I first heard this played at Digitally Imported, liked it, and downloaded it. Though it incorporates music from Konami's 'Metal Gear Solid 2' (and possibly could be construed as infringement =/ ), the track is excellent to listen to--I am listening to it now as I type this post....
My exposure to this track was done without the 'help' of a major recording lablel and thus is in keeping with the 'Music is about people' quote above.
Stop bellyaching and stock up on non-drm PC stuff.
While you are at it, simply do not buy any DRM-encumbered PC hardware (provided the vendors reveal this fact in their advertising). Use the only language the hardware vendors understand: money talks!
Should the internet 'go-DRM' and non-DRM PCs are 'locked out', bring back the good old days of BBSes and Fidonet which was, if I am not mistaken, an 'internet' comprised of networked, always connected BBSes.
Won't hapen. Reality TV shows are cheap to make and are (usually) profitable. Just look at the success of the TV shows COPS, Survivor and it's coincidental big-screen 'offspring' Cast Away (2000).
Well anyway, I think the reason why Reality TV is so popular is due to the part of a vicarious desire to either live life in a manner depicted on the reality show (The Osbournes ) or see how 'the other half lives'. The current crop of Reality TV shows probably owe their existence to the long-running MTV Reality TV show The Real World.
Then there a (moral?) dilemma,
Before advances in medicine came about starting about 200-odd years ago with the likes of Edward Jenner, people in general never lived past their 30s and 40s. Nowadays, that usually isn't the case.
What is one to do? Allow 'natural selection' to 'thin the herd' or use the accumulated medical knowledge on those individuals who would have been 'thinned out' by 'natural selection'?
In a way, this is done by the HMOs when authorizing medical treatments to their clients. The incentive is to save money by rationing health care to go to those patients where they think it will do the most good and is cost effective. Could this be considered a form of 'natural selection'?
Why is my post moded down as redundant?
What is one to do in this case?
Mod 'goatse' posts down (and waste mod points)
Email the admins about it (why bother them about it?)
Or use 'Anonymous Coward' mode to warn readers about such posts
Do you have a cogent rebuttal to my conclusion(s)?
DO NOT CLICK PIC!!!
You have been warned!...
Before the original 'goatse.cx' site was taken down, I got tricked into viewing this site via an amazon.com link redirect. Fiendish and clever....
I'm not wasting a mod point to mod this 'Troll'....
Thank you for your comments, Burning1.
While everyone else goes gaga over SpamAssassin 3.0 and whatnot, I've gone from barely restrained outrage over spammers/computer crackers to now feeling rather sorry for them as they are wasting their time and resources sending me their garbage to me at iamcf13@hotpop.com -- I'll (effectively) never see it. It would be nice if I could use my mailserver program directly and avoid even having to download the crap as it would 'autodelete' it for me.... =/
Here, I would argue that society (really Big Business) caused this situation. I have heard that livestock is 'pumped' up with all sorts of stuff to keep them healthy in deplorable factory farming conditions before they are slaughtered and sold for food. This stuff (antibiotics and whatnot) kills off the weaker bugs and makes the survivors stronger and able to resist that kind of medicine. When someone is infected by these bugs it is very difficult to treat them because 'nothing works'.
Presumably, if the livestock were not kept in deplorable 'factory farming' conditions, the antibiotics and whatnot would not be needed and the bugs wouldn't become resistant to them if they weren't used in the first place. In this case, when they are used to treat someone's illness, the treatment should be effective.
All you need is ONE TCP/IP connection to a remote SMTP server to transfer email. That is what my mailserver does when it sends email to remote mailservers. Sad to say, allowing more than one TCP/IP connection per remote IP address nowadays is just asking for spam!... (>_<);;;
Do what I do:
ASK to look at the DVD BEFORE you rent it. Case in point: I passed up 4 scratched-up copies of Kill Bill Vol. 2 before I came across a copy that likely will work properly.
All Blockbuster Video (and all other DVD rental places) have to do is to 'quality control' the DVD rental returns. Currently all they do now is just make sure they got the right title in the right protective case. If they take a few extra seconds to cull badly scratched up DVDs, they would head off a lot of grief experienced by customers trying to watch a scratched up, 'skippy' DVD in the comfort of their home.
Indeed, it is a masterpiece composed quickly by Craig Safan, the same guy who did the theme music for the Cheers TV sitcom.
My approach 'autodeletes' spam and malware either before or after it reaches your email inbox. The user sets the criteria to use and any email containing any unwanted content is summarily delted.
The 'installation' routine for my mail filter/mailserver is this:
1) Download it.
2) Copy/move it to a brand-new empty hard disk subdirectory.
3) Run it.
Simple.
My mailserver tarpits and disconnects multithreaded spamware connecting to it from the same IP address. That is to say it strictly enforces a '1 connection only' limit. Unfortunately, if it is 'attacked' by a unblacklisted zombie spamnet, it will have to use other measures available within itself to slow down these machines and ultimately 'autodelete' the spam they spew.
Isn't this a perfect program written by a perfect programmer?
C:\>debug
-a 100
134C:0100 int 20
134C:0102
-nbak2dos.com
-rcx
CX 0000
-w
Writing 00002 bytes
-q
C:\>bak2dos
C:\>
Of course, this kind of perfection depends on Intel and Microsoft. It appears my 'do nothing' program does just that. If it doesn't, blame it on Intel and Microsoft.
Of course, according to Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong either by accident, design, or (malicious) intent. Because of this, programmers (like me) should both code programs simply AND put themselves in the user's/badguy's shoes and try to anticipate potential problems and add sufficent code to deal with them beforehand.
As a result of this approach to programming, I had to make 2 quick updates to my software some time ago to solve two problems rather than 'lots and lots' of updates--why force the users to be beta testers when you don't have to?
FACT: It is NOT easy to write worthwhile, non-trivial software....