Date: 10/06/05 (PHP Community)    Keywords: web, spam

Hi there. I'm hoping to get an idea about what recommendations I can get for stopping spam. Here's my idea:

Does anyone remember Earthlink's "verify" tool? An email is sent to an earthlink.net address, and the sender gets a response saying something to the effect of "thank you for your email, however we must verify your identity, please click here to enter your name and a message to send to the user. If you are approved, your email will be sent."

My hope is that I can find something that I can install on my web server, which currently has SpamAssassin, that will allow me to do this or something similar. I've surfed through and seen some info about certain tools that also help *filter* spam, but I'm hoping to find a way to, I guess, automate the administration of a whitelist of sorts.

Any advice? I'll be x-posting this in various communities and on my personal site.

Thanks :)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/351712.html

Date: 10/06/05 (Apache)    Keywords: web, spam

Hi there. I'm hoping to get an idea about what recommendations I can get for stopping spam. Here's my idea:

Does anyone remember Earthlink's "verify" tool? An email is sent to an earthlink.net address, and the sender gets a response saying something to the effect of "thank you for your email, however we must verify your identity, please click here to enter your name and a message to send to the user. If you are approved, your email will be sent."

My hope is that I can find something that I can install on my web server, which currently has SpamAssassin, that will allow me to do this or something similar. I've surfed through and seen some info about certain tools that also help *filter* spam, but I'm hoping to find a way to, I guess, automate the administration of a whitelist of sorts.

Any advice? I'll be x-posting this in various communities and on my personal site.

Thanks :)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/apache/26049.html

Date: 10/07/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: software, hosting, spam

Hey guys. I'm new here and I would be lying if I said I didnt join just to make this post.

(this is not spam, just a good opportunity for students with mad skillz)

I work for a software company that sells discounted software to students and schools. Our hot sellers these days are the graphic programs like Maya and 3DsMax. Our student division, Studica - is hosting a graphics design contest, with $500 for first place in each software category. It is open only to students, unfortumately (sorry), and they will mandate student proof for an entry to qualify.


http://www.studica.com/skills/

Check it out.


(I get no perks if you enter, I'm just trying to promote this contest for my company. I also will not have any say in the judging, I doubt I will even see the entries as I work in the school division, Torcomp.

Apologies if this sort of post is not wanted here, I was told this community might have interested members)

x-posted everywhere.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/991114.html

Date: 10/07/05 (IT Professionals)    Keywords: web, spam

Hi,

I'm in singapore, I'm wondering whether anyone has recommendations..


I've already seen smoothwall and is currently evaluating the gpl version, but I may go for a more mission critical commerical version, but there are tons of features not available yet..


I've seen devices at www.firebrick.co.uk, www.fat-pipe.com etc

the linksys routers (RV042 etc) seem to have snat, upnp , and bonding but not the web proxy... but a dual option may be cheaper ..

if you have one with a reseller in singapore without a massive price tag, let me know..

features i'm looking for

-must have-
SNAT (ie: multiple wan ip support).
UPNP (eg: msn voice/video call)
web proxy with active directory user integration
anything absolutely essential.. (ids?)


--optionals--
mail proxy/antispam (keyword, autowhitelist, rbls, etc)
packet compression
adsl/dsl/t1 etc BONDING..
maybe vpn, but we're using remote desktop now.
anything else good to have..

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/itprofessionals/24821.html

Date: 10/07/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: spam

Name: Angsuman's Referrer Bouncer Version: 1.2 Category: WordPress Plugin Compatibility: WordPress 1.5x and above Overview This is the new version of the popular Referrer Bouncer Plugin for WordPress. It is recommended upgrade for existing users. A Plugin to bounce back referrer spam attempts; requires no upfront configuration, no mod-rewrite. It is like the strong silent bouncer at your favorite club. It [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/wordpress-plugin-angsumans-referrer-bouncer/

Date: 10/09/05 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: software, security, virus, antivirus, spyware, spam, microsoft

Firstly, I just want this to be known that this isn't an anti-windows rant or anything. There is a question being posed here, I promise :P

With that said, companies like McAfee and Symantec have basically been making a living solely from Microsoft's security oversights. They've been charging people to use their software which protects those people from the vulnerabilities that Microsoft left open. The quality of these programs varies from function to function. Even then, they ignore adware since it's not considered 'malicous'. And even still, they have issues with using the same name for similar viruses. Users are faced with these same problems with any anti-virus/anti-adware/anti-whatever software they use. There is a lot of similar companies, but they don't have a common agreeance on what is and isn't a virus, or if they should detect adware. There's also the issues that come with the firewall program they install. Traffic from the internet isn't always malicious, but those firewalls can't usually tell the difference. Very few of these programs are free. None of these problems actually FIX the problem. They're only removing programs that exploit the initial vulnerabilities, leaving room for reuse value.

As many of you surely know already, Microsoft has recently released a beta version of their anti-crap (to summarize anti-spam, anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware, etc) scanner and removal tool. Before that, they've included a firewall program in XP SP2. Microsoft is not charging anything for either of these programs. At least not as of yet if they ever decide to.

So, my question is this; Do you folks think Microsoft is taking a step in the right direction by adding the firewall and scanner tools? Will they do a better job than the other Antivirus vendors? Do you think maybe they are taking a step in the WRONG direction, like, why aren't they fixing the actual problems instead of covering them up? What do you all think?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/793809.html

Date: 10/11/05 (Security)    Keywords: security, virus, spyware, spam, microsoft

Will Microsoft's announcement of a new security strategy to provide better virus, spam and spyware protection for corporate customers?

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/CIO+Jury+deliberates+on+Microsoft+security/2100-1009_22-5893260.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 10/12/05 (Web Development)    Keywords: php, web, spam

Hi everyone, sorry if anyone thinks this is spam, but I've signed up for a pledge at the address below looking for web designers who are willing to give up some of their time to help design websites for good causes. So whether you're a PHP guru, a graphic designer, or just good and bossing people around and getting projects done, we could use your help.

http://www.pledgebank.com/webcharity

Cheers,
@<

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdev/255254.html

Date: 10/12/05 (Security)    Keywords: spam

The United States is still the greatest source of spam, but tougher laws and other measures are helping stem the tide, Sophos says.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Report%3A+Antispam+push+helping+curb+U.S.+junk+mail/2100-1009_22-5894104.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 10/20/05 (Application Development)    Keywords: spam, microsoft

Features include delivery of e-mail directly to mobile devices and an authentication protocol Microsoft says will help filter spam.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/MS+pushes+new+Exchange+2003+service+pack/2100-9593_22-5904408.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 10/21/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: blogging, rss, spam

It appears to me full content RSS feeds are actually helping and compounding the splog (spam blog) problem. Splogs or spam blogs are blogs which are created by using syndicated content of other blogs, automatically aggregated, to increase their PR and AdSense dollars. Splogs don't add value to the system, rather devalue the whole blogging [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/are-full-content-rss-feeds-compounding-the-splog-problem/

Date: 10/27/05 (Security)    Keywords: spam

Campaign against junk e-mail is expanded to target criminals who hijack PCs to send spam messages.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/Microsoft+takes+on+spam+zombies/2100-1009_22-5917817.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

Date: 10/31/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: blogging, software, spam

Matt, author of WordPress blogging software, has released an anti-spam plugin for WordPress - Automattic Spam Stopper (now renamed as AKismet) Bad Behavior, a competing rather effective comment spam prevention plugin, author nicknamed IOError posted a review which points out some obvious downsides of such centralized spam filtering mechanisms like: 1. Privacy concern - all your comments [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/meta-review-of-wordpress-matts-automatticsic-spam-stopper-ass/

Date: 11/02/05 (PHP Community)    Keywords: mysql, database, sql, security, spam

for the last few days someone has been testing my various forms to see if they can send 'extra' email headers. stupid spammers...

This got me thinking about ways of 'cleaning up' user input, and I was wondering how other people go about it. I know input validation depends on what exactly the input is (ie guestbook comment would be treated differently to a query string), but in general terms

my current method involves stripping newline characters (\r\n), stripslashes (and then mysql_real_escape_string anything that's going into a database), trim, and strip_tags if need be.
I also have some things that use regular expressions to check/remove any unwanted characters etc. I'm probably missing lots of important things, but I seem to be picking stuff up as I go along, and I'm getting quite paranoid about security, which can't be a bad thing. heh.

Anyone else got a different approach, or any general tips/links?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/php/363396.html

Date: 11/04/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: html, spam, google

Don't worry, it's for an internal thing.

How do you make an HTML email?
I mean more than just setting your email program to "Send email as HTML" - but I need to send this stupid email newsletter with links, graphics and a background image (on the table, since I've read that email programs often/usually strip the and tags), and google is inundated with stupid guides to stupid products, and not the actual task.
Don't worry, it's for an internal newsletter, not...really...spam.

I'm using MS Outlook.

just to say it some more:
stupid stupid and stupid...

But thank you.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1011617.html

Date: 11/06/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: html, asp, web, spam

I found these 2 articles on deli.cio.us and I think they are very useful tips to freelancers or people working for web dev companies/agencies:

http://www.howdesign.com/db/features/whatclientswant.asp
http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2005/10/how_to_spend_yo.html

Also, if anyone is looking for a great project management tool, I have to say just how happy I am with basecamp. My partner and I used it free for a month and have now signed on with them to keep track of our multiple projects. This isn't spam, I'm just so happy that I've found an easy way to stay organized!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1012114.html

Date: 11/07/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: spam

On the internet almost everyone asks for your email address. I used to give in good faith and in return I received tons of spam. I am sure it has happened to you too. Here's how you solve it. Use mailinator.com. The beauty is that now you can use any random email address like john@mailinator.com or [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/solve-your-email-spam-problem-with-fully-disposable-emaill-addresses/

Date: 11/09/05 (Java Web)    Keywords: spam, ebay

Don't exchange personal information. Read all of the information about the seller. Verify recommendations from other buyers. Read all of the information about the listing. Be patient. Allow sellers to respond to your question. Let eBay know if you receive racist, obscene or harassing language. Report invalid e-mail addresses. Tell eBay if you start receiving spam after a transaction. Tell eBay if someone [...]

Source: http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/10-tips-for-surviving-ebay-online-auction/

Date: 10/20/05 (Application Development)    Keywords: spam, microsoft

Features include delivery of e-mail directly to mobile devices and an authentication protocol Microsoft says will help filter spam.

Source: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9593_22-5904408.html

Date: 01/01/70 (Programming)    Keywords: spam

I upgraded Moveable Type last night to version 3.2. I'm hoping that it will take care of some of my spam problems. I'm getting really sick of deleting tons of spam posts a day. I don't even know why people...

Source: http://www.coreycollins.com/blog/archives/000070.php