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Re: OT: spammers

2004-05-27 07:58:04
In <200405271521(_dot_)14472(_at_)linuxrulz> Alain Knaff 
<spf(_at_)misc(_dot_)lka(_dot_)org(_dot_)lu> writes:

If the spammers would have been smart, they would have *negatively*
selected us, so that much less of us would get spam.

Many spammers try to do just that, they listwash.  This is why SpamCop
has long had the option to munge email email addresses and has
recently started to default to "mole" reporting where no abuse reports
are sent to anyone, the reports are just used to feed the SpamCop
DNSBL.


That said, there is also the "tragedy of the commons" problem for
spammers.  If every spammer carefully cleaned their lists, targetted
only likely buyers and kept their volume down, then all spammers would
have a much easier time.  Unfortunately, there is a huge benefit for
each individual spammer to just crank out the spam as quickly as they
can.

Sure, this may hurt all of them in the long run, but that must means
that the smart spammers will try to make the most of it in the short
run.


-wayne



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