[Gmail-Users] Re: Happy New Year!

"Zack (Doc)" <doc029@gmail.com>

>
> On 1/2/06, Gerard Seibert <gerard.seibert@gmail.com> wrote:
> <clipped>
> > If they have any knowledge of reading email headers they will know
> > instantly. In addition, may programs such as MailWasher will detect that
> > the recipient was sent to via the 'BCC:' line whether or not an actual
> > name was used in the 'TO:' field.
>
> I've used MailWasher, decent program. but your logic has holes.
> MailWasher (at least in every incarnation I'm aware of) is not a mail
> server, but a POP3 retriever. It can detect if you were on the TO or
> CC line, but it is not fed a BCC line, so it can tell no difference
> between this message (to a group you subscribe) or a message I truely
> BCCed you on, cause your address is not anywhere in the headers. In
> fact, the message (actual raw format between servers) is passed
> identically between a listserv and a receiver as a BCC is passed.

MailWasher can. and in my situatiom, is configured to look for a name;
i.e., mine, in the 'TO:' or 'CC:' filed. If it is not present, then the
mail is classified as SPAM. It is that simple. SPAM mail is bounced,
with a copy sent to SPAMCOP for reporting as SPAM. The the copy is
deleted off of the server.
>
> > There are so many far more eloquent ways to handle this situation that I
> > can only deduce that the users of 'BCC:' are either to lazy,
> > inconsiderate or uneducated to use a more personalized method of
> > transmission.
>
> OK... I've added you to 3 different mailing lists that I use so I
> don't reveal your address to the hundreds of other people I'm sending
> the messages to. Hope you don't mind being involuntarily subscribed
> to the groups and appreciate the volume of mail that doesn't pertain
> to the subjects I'm intending you to get copied on. (I have *NOT*
> added anyone to any lists like this, I'm using sarcasm to bring the
> point home)

If you had, it would have been reported as SPAM. I do that to
approcximately 500 emails per week through SPAMCOP. It is virtually
automatic.
>
> I also downloaded a program that lets me send a message to a hundred
> different people, and always have their name on the To line without
> manually retyping the message. I downloaded it from a site that was
> offering to sell me "1 milloin valid non-AOL e-mail addresses", but I
> passed on that as I don't have a need for them. Thankfully the site
> also had a list of open-proxies they'd detected around the world for
> me to use since running my own SMTP server blocks me from sending to
> many of my friends. (Again, sarcasm, and intentional misspelling to
> illustrate that those type programs are available on SPAMmers web
> pages, and used by SPAMmers. Yes they have valid uses, so does BCC,
> but they are being used as tools by SPAMmers)

My mailserver is configured with the following services:

ipwhois.rfc-ignorant.org
proxies.blackholes.easynet.nl
relays.ordb.org
bl.spamcop.net
sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org

'proxies.blackholes.easynet.nl' will usually catch open-proxies.

In addition, I have SPAMCOP configured with the following services:

DNS Blacklist DNS Zone Website
SpamCop Blacklist bl.spamcop.net www.spamcop.net/bl.shtml
SPEWS level 1 l1.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net www.spews.org
DSBL open relays list.dsbl.org dsbl.org
Spamhaus Blacklist sbl.spamhaus.org www.spamhaus.org/sbl/
South Korea (the country) korea.services.net korea.services.net
China (the country) cn.rbl.cluecentral.net www.cluecentral.net/rbl/
Nigeria nigeria.blackholes.us www.blackholes.us
Argentina argentina.blackholes.us www.blackholes.us
Brazil brazil.blackholes.us www.blackholes.us
Composite Blocking List cbl.abuseat.org cbl.abuseat.org
Spamhaus XBL xbl.spamhaus.org www.spamhaus.org/xbl/
SORBS DNSbl dnsbl.sorbs.net www.dnsbl.sorbs.net

I fear no SPAM. In case you are wondering, I use both SPAMCOP and run my
own mail server. The server is for business, and to some extent,
personal use.

I could relay all mail from the server to SPAMCOP and then back to
another address, but that takes up a lot of bandwidth, and is really
unnecessary.
>
> > One last thing. If your message gets blocked by a filter that is 'BCC:'
> > aware, don't cry. You were warned!
>
> If I am blocked from sending to you, simply because you were a BCC
> rather than a To, and everything else was properly formatted per the
> RFCs, then I might cry a little. The filter that drops mail SIMPLY
> because you're not on the TO or CC lines when everything else checks
> out, is violating the standards (something you've gotten on GMail
> about, though their implementation isn't technically in violation,
> just not specifically followed exactly as you'd like). Your receiving
> mail server, as I've stated already, has no idea whether you are the
> ONLY BCC receiver, or there are thousands of BCCs on this message
> (this very message does have thousands, as there are over 4000
> subscribers to this group). It only knows how many To and CC
> addresses there are, and if you are one of THEM.

Actually, I could, although I have not had the time to invest in it,
configure 'procmail' to filter mail based on whether my name is in the
'TO:" or 'CC:' field. I have just never gotten around to it. It is on my
do list though.
>
> Blocking cause there is *NO* TO line is in protocol, as it is a
> required field. If it chooses to label it as suspected Junk/Spam (as
> Yahoo and Hotmail do), then that's acceptable, and up to the user to
> discern the difference.

If the sender does not have my name in the 'TO:' or 'CC:' field, then it
qualifies as junk and will be dealt with accordingly.
>
> > --
> > Gerard Seibert
> > gerard.seibert@gmail.com