Subj : proposed new nodelist [2]
To : Frank Vest
From : mark lewis
Date : Wed Jul 17 2002 07:13 pm
FV>>> "spam bots" could be made to "harvest" Node addresses for spam
FV>>> purposes. In reality, harvesting would not be needed. Just grab a
FV>>> copy of the Nodelist, add yourself into it and spam away. :(
ml>> MM>> It is happening already. I throw away hundreds of Fidonet-
ml>> MM>> addressed spam daily at my Internet gateway.
FV>> True, but those originate from the Internet. As I described,
FV>> the spam would originate from a Fidonet Node in the Fidonet
FV>> Nodelist operating Fidonet mailer and no way to stop them
FV>> since they added their own Nodes listing to the Fidonet
FV>> Nodelist. Yes, the *C could remove the listing, but the Node
FV>> just adds it back in.... and the battle rages.
ml>> there would be a lock mechanism... has to be... and the
ml>> "controlling commitee" (if you will) would have that
ml>> capability...
FV> In the Internet world, the control is in large part by the
FV> ISP and you pay the ISP for access. Fidonet has no such t
FV> hing... therefore, there would be no controlling committee
wanna bet? if the WWB can design and implement an ELIST type service that is
controlled by a committee of its members, then i know that there can also be a
committee of nodes that can control this "automatic node list"... for that
matter, don't even go that far... it would be incumbent on the *C that assigned
the new node a number to make the update...
FV> except the *Cs and they would have little power with a
FV> Nodelist that is open to addition by anyone. My biggest
FV> fear for Fidonet is that it will be opened up to the
FV> point that anyone can just add themselves into Fidonet
FV> without any questions asked.
the internet is already like that...
FV> If Fidonet is not careful, it could become a place that is
FV> little different from the Internet is regards to spam. Much
FV> like the spammers, a person could jump from Node number to
FV> Node number. Having the ability for "anyone off the street"
FV> to add themselves into the Fidonet nodelist is not a good
FV> thing for Fidonet.
they can do that, already! have been able to for many many many years...
FV> Anyway, this is getting off the topic of a Nodelist format.
FV> :-)
