RE: Article Announcement: Can Microsoft End Spam?

-----Original Message-----

There is a very large problem with fighting spam and it is simple: the ease of the spammers fabricating headers. Well put, Mr. Seltzer. If technology could be implemented such that no information could be fabricated, i.e. a fake "Reply-To" or "From" field, the use of relay servers, etc. then it would be very difficult for spammers to continue to operate within countries whose governments care about spam. (Which is another problem -- email has no borders, and neither do the spammers....)

Perhaps in the future protocols can be designed such that information regarding the physical MAC addresses of spammers (which could be compared to an international registry of sold computer hardware) or other "absolute" information could be included. I don't really know too much about where email tech. is going, but I do know that they have to be working on something along these lines, no?

Just my two cents

• Justin Shin

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From: Larry Seltzer [mailto:larry@larryseltzer.com] Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 9:46 AM
To: 'Focus-MS'
Subject: RE: Article Announcement: Can Microsoft End Spam?

Much of this criticism is disingenuous. Microsoft is right that the worst part of stopping spam is the fraudulent and deceptive practices used by spammers. Think how much easier it would be to stop spam through simple technology if spammers really did use honest headers, subject lines and return addresses. And it's hard to argue that the criminal and civil legal systems have no place in stopping fraud.

Larry Seltzer
Editor
Ziff Davis Security SuperSite
http://security.ziffdavis.com/
larryseltzer@ziffdavis.com

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-----Original Message-----

From: Thor Larholm [mailto:thor@pivx.com] Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 7:08 AM
To: Marc Fossi; Focus-MS
Subject: RE: Article Announcement: Can Microsoft End Spam?

The Washington Times featured an article on the very same topic, but with an opposite outcome - a very critical blow against microsofts efforts.

http://washingtontimes.com/business/20030629-103835-5128r.htm

In short, Microsoft is heavily lobbying for legalizing opt-out spam.

Regards
Thor Larholm
PivX Solutions, LLC - Senior Security Researcher

-----Original Message-----

From: Marc Fossi [mailto:mfossi@securityfocus.com] Sent: 6. juli 2003 15:38
To: Focus-MS
Subject: Article Announcement: Can Microsoft End Spam?

Can Microsoft End Spam?
By Tim Mullen (June 30, 2003)

Unwanted e-mail saps security budgets and wastes everyone's time. It's nice to see Bill Gates take some responsibility for stopping it.

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http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/170

Marc Fossi
Symantec Corp.
www.symantec.com