6/3/03 New SPAM Blocking Measures

[Vixen]

We are solving the spam issue as Admin stated, by blocking the open relays listed by MAPS http://mail-abuse.org/ and http://www.spamhaus.org/sbl and using the RBL list for mail servers that are known to spam.

[admin]

jmbeach, thats what we are trying to find out and do.. I think this new list will help..

[PioneeR]

Anything to stop the constant stream of spam.

Getting worse and worse. Everyday I get Viagra and the like. I used to use Spamnet on my Outlook client (which did a good job)

If emails get bounced because they are black listed.. good! Maybe the ISPs in question will do something about it then

[L_P]

I am just happy my email just started working again
I think I am pretty tolerant then most customers,
then again I think it helps that I also administer my own
servers here at home for other uses. and I must say Matrix is doing a good job. you people should be happy at least they answer calls and emails on the weekend. Heck I emailed support on a sunday at like thirty minutes till midnight, EST USA, and I got a reply back from them, my last hosting provider was a mon-fri 10am-8pm EST USA, and they where down a lot on the weekend because a server crashed or another reason, and to top it off they never told you what the problem was and the such they just would say it was fixed. So I think Matrix is doing a great job. and those of you who still like to complain about stuff. I want to see you take a server and troubleshoot it. its not as easy to do as your system if your cdrom fails. there is a lot more stuff involved in servers. anyway, keep up the good work.
-L_P

[Two Roads Media]

Logically speaking, I understand blocking spam from a universally accepted list and I also understand blocking from domains or servers shown to have spammed in the past. However, blocking anything from an openrelay server is like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

I've had at least two emails in the last few days bounce that now I've determined to be over this issue. One from a friend and another from a potential client.

I completely respect the desire to eliminate as much spam as possible, but while I don't lose business over spam, I certainly do if a potential client cannot reach me via email. If you are a web developer and your email doesn't work, that says something about your business, IMO.

I am glad you are implementing spam blocking. I think, however, like many others I would just ask that you find a way to be as discriminating as possible so those who are not guilty of wrongdoing aren't punished for the sins of others. Thanks.

i dont mind blocking email from free relay outgoing servers at all. i dont know anyone who uses it.

with spam, if its too much trouble i'll just get a local client to hanndle that.

all im currently concerned about is my clients checking their email and being able to do so. my server is still lagging and timing out, and STILL ASKING FOR MY PASSWORD AGAIN AND AGAIN. this is the only thing that is p'ing me off.

[Vixen]

Originally posted by L_P
So I think Matrix is doing a great job. and those of you who still like to complain about stuff. I want to see you take a server and troubleshoot it. its not as easy to do as your system if your cdrom fails. there is a lot more stuff involved in servers. anyway, keep up the good work.
-L_P

Thanks L_P, you took the words right outta my mouth.

AMEN MY BROTHA!

[admin]

Well we are now only using one service http://www.spamhaus.org/sbl funny thing is the one we added today had our self added from some customer spamming.. Say the least we droped that one once we found that out..

We are open to ideas at this time spamhaus.org seems to be the best. We are thnking of spamcop but I think that might be bad not sure yet..

[sheaver]

Originally posted by L_P and Vixen
.... and those of you who still like to complain about stuff. I want to see you take a server and troubleshoot it. its not as easy to do as your system if your cdrom fails. there is a lot more stuff involved in servers.
-L_P

No-one says it's an easy task or that Matrix do a bad job

BUT

when my, (or anyones), customer calls or emails to say they cannot use Outlook and keep getting password messages what do you think would happen if they heard a response like

"Hey {insert customer name here},
I'd like to see you take a server and troubleshoot it"

I'll tell you what would happen - one less customer.

Can you imagine taking your car into get it's oil changed and two days later it was not ready but the guy with the greasy hands tell you "hey buddy, I'd like to see you under the hood, changing the filter, blah, blah, blah"

We, (the customer), just want our customers to be happy. It's a domino effect.

Hook us up and we'll be good little quiet lemmings again.

[Two Roads Media]

AMEN BROTHA!

I think Matrix/Vortech is a tremendous company. I've been through plenty of hosts that suck and this isn't one of them. But I have plenty of customers and you can damn sure bet I don't tell them, "You should just be happy you have hosting." What kind of customer service is that?

In fact, it would be absolutely irresponsible of me as a business owner and a service provider to simply pretend problems didn't exist and not do everything within my power to get them fixed. If I didn't, I wouldn't stay in business.

Thanks for following up on all the issues. I have every confidence that they will be solved. You guys have always done a great job of handling the myriad of problems that must come your way on a daily basis.

[Vixen]

Originally posted by sheaver
No-one says it's an easy task or that Matrix do a bad job

BUT

when my, (or anyones), customer calls or emails to say they cannot use Outlook and keep getting password messages what do you think would happen if they heard a response like

"Hey {insert customer name here},
I'd like to see you take a server and troubleshoot it"

I'll tell you what would happen - one less customer.

Can you imagine taking your car into get it's oil changed and two days later it was not ready but the guy with the greasy hands tell you "hey buddy, I'd like to see you under the hood, changing the filter, blah, blah, blah"

We, (the customer), just want our customers to be happy. It's a domino effect.

Hook us up and we'll be good little quiet lemmings again.

The password issue ONLY happens in Outlook from what I see and hear because I use Eudora and never have the issue. Whereas people in the office that use Outlook have had the issue. That is why I love my Eudora.

Personally, I don't tell people how to do stuff that I can't do myself as I would have no way of knowing what exactly is involved. Unless you know what is involved in doing something, you have no room to critique someone else for the way they are doing it. If you don't know how to do it yourself, how can you tell someone else they are doing it incorrectly??

That is just personal opinion.

[sheaver]

Originally posted by Vixen
The password issue ONLY happens in Outlook from what I see and hear because I use Eudora and never have the issue. Whereas people in the office that use Outlook have had the issue. That is why I love my Eudora.

Whats that got to do with this issue?

Something was added which caused a problem and we need it fixed.

Originally posted by Vixen
Personally, I don't tell people how to do stuff that I can't do myself as I would have no way of knowing what exactly is involved. Unless you know what is involved in doing something, you have no room to critique someone else for the way they are doing it.

No one out here is telling you how to do it - we just want it fixed. I don't tell the guy at Jiffy Lube how to change my oil, I just ask him to fix it and he does because thats how a customer-supplier relationship goes.

[Vixen]

As for the Outlook remark, you were the one that mentioned the pop up so I was just letting you know it only happens with Outlook. Sorry I didn't say what you wanted me to or agree with you.

As for the rest you missed the ENTIRE point( If you don't know how to do it yourself, how can you tell someone else they are doing it incorrectly??), so there is no need in me continuing the conversation with you.

Sheaver, do you think the techs are sitting around playing pick up sticks???? They work hard to get things fixed, but it isn't going to happen at the drop of a dime and it isn't going to get fixed any faster just because customers come here and complain. Letting them know what the problem is is good, but demanding it be fixed RIGHT NOW doesn't mean it can be fixed right when you want it to, things take time and I hope you can understand that.