Re: [Asrg] seeking comments on new RMX article

[Michael Rubel <[e-mail]>]

On Tue, 6 May 2003, Barry Shein wrote:
MR> Ask yourself:  Why are spammers drawn to bighost.com addresses?

BS>      When was the last time you said "[e-mail]"? Why
BS>      it must be important, IT'S FROM AOL.COM!

Perhaps... but then why do spammers do it?

BS> The only thing that might carry some trust is [e-mail] where
BS> you believe you recognize someone, particularly in the context of
BS> @xyz.com, like [e-mail].

RMX addresses that problem too; spammers will not be able to claim to 
write on behalf of [e-mail].  That's a good 
thing!

MR> If we can prevent spammers from using respected names, then we've 
MR> pushed them toward unknown names (or more precisely, names from which 
MR> the recipient does not normally receive ham) which carry a lower 
MR> default credibility; a message will have to look substantially more 
MR> spam-like to be rejected if it comes legitimately (according to RMX 
MR> records) from bighost.com.

BS> If that's your goal then just add the mailbox and call it 
BS> whitelisting.

Whitelisting only works if you're reasonably sure the sender is who he 
claims to be.  Ergo, RMX.

BS> Anyhow, no, I disagree, it's a tiny, tiny improvement in the spam 
BS> arena.

Fair enough; this is a matter of opinion, and only time will tell.  But
the forgery reduction aspect makes RMX useful enough to stand on its own,
and RMX can only help with spam.

BS> It *might* be some improvement in general identification to prevent
BS> certain types of malicious fraud.

8<...>8

BS> BUT THAT'S NOT SPAM (oops, sorry for shouting.)

Barry, please--my response wasn't (intended to be) a flame, or otherwise 
rude.

Spam is a problem for senders, whose reputations get damaged by spam in
their names, and for recipients.  RMX helps a great deal on the sender
side, and a little bit on the receiver side--though since none of us knows
exactly how much, there seems to be a lot of very loud debate on the
subject.  And RMX definitely helps with fraud.

From your earlier responses, I had gathered that you were largely in favor
of RMX, albeit only for the last reason.  Has that changed?

Mike

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