General question

[gushertz@peoplepc.com]

I've been receiving the same spam text under numerous different names and ever-changing domains/email addresses. How can Spamcop track down the perpetrators and block this type of spam/harrassment?

[turetzsr]

...Welcome!

...Tracking down the source of the abuse is exactly the raison d'etre of SpamCop! Basically, what id does is look at the Internet Headers of the spam to figure out the IP address from whence it came, then looks up the abuse e-mail address for that IP address. That's actually an oversimplification, I think, as it seems to do a much better job than I was able to do via NIC (ARIN, APNIC, etc) lookups.

...SpamCop has nothing to do with stopping the abuse, at least directly. It does, however, publish a list of those spammy IP addresses that meet a certain threshhold and can be used to block or tag possible spam. It is up to the administrators of the IP addresses through which the spam flows to actually stop the abuse.

[gushertz@peoplepc.com]

Ah...! So if the administrator of the IP is originating the spam, the spam will probably continue? Is there any authority over abusing IP administrators?

[dra007]

peoplepc.com,Nov 1 2004, 04:38 PM]Ah...!  So if the administrator of the IP is originating the spam, the spam will probably continue?  Is there any authority over abusing IP administrators?

19482[/snapback]

Do a search for upstream providers threads in this forum (some were placed in the lounge), there were numerous discussions on how to deal with unresponsive abuse desks. However some of those big time upstream providers may be just as unresponsive!!

[Miss Betsy]

Because of the international aspect of the internet, it is very difficult to get 'authority' in the form of laws and enforcement. However, blocklists that are used are effective in getting unresponsive administrators' attention when their customers get their emails rejected. It is a long term solution. Some people think that there will essentially be two internets - one where administrators are responsible - neither allowing spam to be sent and blocking irresponsible/incompetent administrators - and the other where spam is both sent and received without interference.

As far as spam in your inbox now, the solutions are various filters and choosing an ISP who does use blocklists if you don't want to change your email address.

Changing your email address to one that is not as vulnerable to dictionary attacks (basically making it alphanumeric - 6u5h3rtz for instance) and using throwaway addresses for purchasing products or otherwise entering your email address on the web will give you an essentially spamfree inbox.

Miss Betsy