Re: Another Nutty Idea about SPAM

[dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM)]

ichudov@algebra.com (Igor Chudov @ home) writes:
> Another nutty idea: to create a database of people who do NOT want to
> receive unsolicited advertisements, and make it widely available.

This is not a nutty idea at all. It's a very good idea.

> The obvious problem is that some very uncsrupulous spammers would want
> to grab this database and use it as a source of email addresses.
>
> This problem has a solution, however: instead of distributing people's
> email addresses, distribute MD5 checksums of their addresses. For
> example, an entry for ichudov@algebra.com would be
>
> 	b51175dae78f25427351d5e3ff43de30
>
> There is no way to guess the original text from an MD5 checksum.

You misspelled SHA. :-)

> Spammers should be advised to exclude all addresses with MD5 checksums from
> that database from the recipient list, and include instructions on how
> to get one added to the database into their spams.
>
> Database maintainers could even provide a email filter-bot that would
> accept recipient lists by email and send back the same lists, but
> WITHOUT addresses that wish not to receive spam. This way stupid
> low-tech spammers (who make up the majority) will be able to process
> their email lists quickly and easily.
>
> This database may be maintained centrally. Users may be able to sign up
> for inclusion into that database by email or by filling out a Web-based
> form. Identity verifications may be done by using cookie protocol.

This was discussed on this mailing list around September. Check the
archives for good ideas how to add wildcards (like *@algebra.com) to
the hashed list.

---

<a href="mailto:dlv@bwalk.dm.com">Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM</a>
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps