On Mon, Oct 20, 2003 at 03:37:46PM -0400, Chris Santerre wrote: > Lets say I can track the spammer to the source. What avenue do we have to > stop them? Should I work with local legislation next? Don't flame me on this > question, but should ISPs be held more accountable? Like Comcast? (Should be > called spamcast!)
Law enforcement doesn't seem particularly concerned about spammers. Every message that is transmitted via an open proxy or open relay is already in violation of laws regarding misuse of computer equipment. Every spam that advertises prescription drugs or pyramid schemes or kiddie porn is in violation of existing laws. A large quantity of such spam originates from the US (especially Boca Raton, FL), and yet existing laws are not enforced. When the spammers use viruses and worms to install trojans on hundreds of thousands of home computers, I would think they are violating existing laws. When they use those computers to DDoS anti-spam resources off the Internet. they are violating existing laws. I suppose if we could convince the spammers to start sharing a few CD's online, we could get law enforcement interested in them. But for spamming? With Microsoft and the DMA hamstringing legislative efforts? I don't see it happening. The ONLY thing that has proven to be effective is to get enough people pissed off at a particular provider to block enough traffic from them to cause them and their non-spamming customers extreme pain. Sometimes, that is enough to make them clean up their spammers. However, the Internet community remains deeply divided over the utility of this method. So the spam volume grows. And more people stop using E-mail altogether. And people clap themselves on the back and announce proudly that they are blocking 98% of their spam, as though it's accomplishing something other than causing the spammers to up their output a little more. -- Alan ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by OSDN developer relations Here's your chance to show off your extensive product knowledge We want to know what you know. Tell us and you have a chance to win $100 http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?HRPT1X3RYQNC5V4MLNSV3E54 _______________________________________________ Spamassassin-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/spamassassin-talk
