|
| |
Winlink curtails Spam on its Network
Winlink
Users are in remote locations, have limited radio access time per day and can do
without Spam, the annoying messages, including advertising, that are the least
of the concerns of Winlink Users, for example, when crossing the South Pacific
on a recreational sail boat. The Winlink Development Team with Steve (K4CJX) as
the Administrator, has worked hard to eliminate Spam from the Network. This has
been highly successful.
The unique
feature of Winlink communication is that senders of messages can always be
uniquely identified and anyone who might interfere with disaster or emergency
relief operations processed via Winlink can expect censure to the fullest extent
of the law as in virtually all countries such interference is treated as a
crime. Therefore, unauthorized users can be electronically locked out from the
system.
The Winlink
Administrator has released the statement that is given below. It describes the
measures that have been taken by the Winlink Development Team to totally
eliminate, or at the very least significantly curtail Spam, that might be
attempted to be sent by "spammers" to Winlink's worldwide users:
QUOTE:
Winlink Development Team
One of the most troubling aspects of Interfacing with the Internet is the
uncontrolled use of SPAM or "unwanted email." Until recently we really had a
problem with this issue and were constantly wrestling with it. We have always employed virus screening within our own software with the help of
Norton Anti-virus. Year before last, we joined the "SPAM COP" service and
"ORDB Spam Screen" service which refuses open relay servers. We also
suggested to our users that they turn off the Bcc option since that is how much SPAM is sent. The results have been good, but not to our satisfaction.
Most recently, we employed an "Acceptance list" which works as follows:
1. If an Winlink 2000 radio user sends SMTP email OUT into the Internet, the address goes into the Acceptance list for a period of 6 Months from the last
message sent to the email address. This will allow the Internet email recipient to continue to email the radio user since they will be in the
Acceptance list database table.
2. If an Internet user initiates an email to a radio user without first having the radio user initiate the exchange, the Internet email user will
receive an automated message asking them to manually register their address on
http://winlink.org/accept. AFTER they register, their email address will
remain valid to send messages into the WL2K radio users for a period of ONLY 5 days. Of course, when the WL2K radio user replies, the address will remain
valid in the white list for a period of 6 Months from the date of the last reply.
3. We have also incorporated a wildcard list of always accepted domains or "Trusted Sources" which are permanently exempt from the system. This will be
useful for emergency preparedness and other such uses such as the NWS NOAA WX list services, ARRL, FCC, and a myriad of other such uses.
Literally, since this methodology has been employed, we have had no unwanted email (SPAM) enter the Winlink 2000 message system! Should this service need
removing for some reason, the service can be toggled on or off instantly.
Because more and more use of the Internet is integrating into Amateur Radio, perhaps you can use this information elsewhere. We find it not only valuable
for everyday use, but it also adds to the tool kit of additional securities for emergency management uses. We are seeing it used by the commercial ISPs
and expect to see much more in the near future. However, ISPs do not have our commitment to be "squeaky clean."
FYI,
Steve, k4cjx
Winlink Network Administrator,
UNQUOTE
The above
announcement is particularly important because Winlink is increasingly used by
official search and rescue operations and by "first responders" to
natural disasters or other emergency relief operations. News on this development
will be made available shortly.
Now that
the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is in the final stages of
implementing significant reforms to the benefit of the Australian amateur radio
community, that would benefit also foreign visitors, it is expected that Winlink
will start to play an increasingly important role in Australia as well.
AussieWinlink
18 January 2004
|
