Rants and Chants

Updated May 22, 10:30a.

Original post:

As of last night, May 20, around 11:00 p.m., some asshole spammer out there has been sending out e-mails that have my domain in the from: line. These spam e-mails are not from me. Whoever is doing this is “e-mail spoofing” the from: line with a bogus address at my domain.

If I ever find out who they are, which I realize is a futile hope, I will file a libel/slander lawsuit against them, since sending spam spoofed with my domain is as damaging to me and my reputation as libel or slander would be.

I have asked my Web host to investigate, but I am not confident that anything will come of it. What the entire Internet really needs are much more strict requirements for how e-mail works and is validated.

Update:

During the last 36 hours, I have received over 250 e-mails that have bounced back into my Inbox. All of them have come back from automated systems — either from anti-spam programs or from undeliverable e-mails to expired accounts. I’ve weathered the storm by setting up my own automated rules to Trash the messages — and I hope I’m not inadvertently trashing any legitimate e-mails.

My Web host has been extremely helpful in making some changes to my mail server and they have recommended I check out the Sender Policy Framework (http://www.openspf.org/). They have also offered some reassurance that spammers typically use a spoofed domain for only a cycle or two of spamming and then move on.

When I shared my predicament with a friend, his response was the amusing “look on the bright side” suggestion that it might generate more traffic to my humble little site. I’m not a fan of the “even bad publicity is publicity” mindset. I want a bigger audience, but not this way.