>=20
>=20
>=20
> In general terms, a question for the email system wizards;
>=20
> What would be the difficult to implement a validation system,=20
> as a register signature encrypted code. Each email server=20
> should be registered at some degree with a anti-spam=20
> organization.  The registration will be able to locate the=20
> email server who originated the spam, and if considered spam,=20
> they would be penalized or by some way suffer the=20
> consequences of signed the registration and abide to the=20
> anti-spam rules.  The encryption signature code is inserted=20
> into the email and only at another registered email server it=20
> could be decrypted.
>=20

There is something similar to this already.  There is a shared database =
called the "Open Relay Blacklist"  This is a list of mail servers that =
allow spam to be sent through them because of misconfigured security.  =
They are not neccesarily *sending* spam, but are allowing spam to be =
freeley sent through them.  Some mail programs can automatically reject =
from hosts on the ORB.

But basically, the problem is fairly simple to solve.  Essentially, all =
you need to know is that the mail server is a real, live authenticated =
mail server, and not someone trying to hide.  Spoofing is tha main =
problem, and if you remove spoofing, then you would kill most of the =
spam because you could either complain to the originator, or block them. =
 Or, as you mention, only accept mail from "certified spam free" hosts.

The authentication can happen via encryption, or a host of other =
methods.  Technically, it is not hard, but it is a big =
infrastructure/standards thing to actually get in implemented and in =
place.

>=20
> Ok, I know it is not impossible, can be difficult, yes, but,=20
> sooner or later this would happens, right? Why don't you=20
> receive porn trash mail via USPS? simple, because it can put=20
> someone behind bars faster than to say "voil=E1". =20
> International organizations could be built up in anti-spam=20
> attempts. No government can profit with spam, so, no reason=20
> for even the most ugly to deal countries will be against this rules.
>=20

Real mail is easier to trace, as non-intuitive as that sounds.

> If all spam-email contains any way to reach back to the=20
> source, or at least to the product being offered, why then it=20
> is so difficult to stop them? because they are overseas? not=20
> at all, most of them are in your own country, and they can be=20
> located and contacted. So, why it is so difficult to put an lid on it?
>=20

The main problem is that SMTP (email protocol) was never designed to be =
secure.  It was just a quick thing to get email going.  Back in those =
days, if you had a one line ad in your sig block, people would jump all =
over you.  Advertising was strictly forbidden.  Kind of like in the old =
days when you could leave your house unlocked.. :-)

> My apologies if the "encrypt" MS O.E. offers is exactly this,=20
> but I am not an expert in the subject. If it is something=20
> like that, then why we are not using it?
>=20

Encrypt in OE and other clients just lets you digitally sign a message, =
or encrypt it between two parties.  It isn't anything like what you are =
describing.=20

There is another complication regarding how to classify SPAM.  Certainly =
porn stuff is clear, and messages that are deceptive are clearly Spam.  =
But what about an ad from a catalog place where you bought something two =
years ago?  Is that Spam?  There are some gray areas.

Alex

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