Hi All, I'm trying to set up the confirm package for one of my mailing lists. In the directions it says to uncomment rc.local.s10 and create a matching file containing the confirm code.
However, I currently use rc.local.s10 to insert the list name into the subject line of all messages distributed by the list. I am also using rc.local.s00 to block attachments and rc.local.s20 to add a footer with unsubscribe instructions to all list messages, so all the default rc.local file calls are in use.
Is it possible to combine any of these functions? For example, if I pasted the code from rc.local.s10 into the bottom of rc.local.s20 would it be able to perform both functions (inserting the subject line and the footer) within a single rc.local.s20 file?
As an alternative, can I just create another rc.local.sXX file (rc.local.s30?) and add the call to rc.custom?
Thanks, Irwin
On Fri, Jan 07, 2005 at 09:19:40PM -0500, Irwin Lazar wrote:
Hi All,
Is it possible to combine any of these functions? For example, if I pasted the code from rc.local.s10 into the bottom of rc.local.s20 would it be able to perform both functions (inserting the subject line and the footer) within a single rc.local.s20 file?
Thanks, Irwin
You can certainly combine many scripts into any one of these files. The main difference between the different files is that they run at different times during the process. Personally, I do what you do exactly what you suggest, both adding the footer and the name in the subject line in s20, because this file is applied after the message is archived, and I want it archived before either of these things occurs.
Regards, Don MacDougall
** Reply to message from Irwin Lazar imlazar@comcast.net on Fri, 07 Jan 2005 21:19:40 -0500
Hi All, I'm trying to set up the confirm package for one of my mailing lists. In the directions it says to uncomment rc.local.s10 and create a matching file containing the confirm code.
However, I currently use rc.local.s10 to insert the list name into the subject line of all messages distributed by the list. I am also using rc.local.s00 to block attachments and rc.local.s20 to add a footer with unsubscribe instructions to all list messages, so all the default rc.local file calls are in use.
Is it possible to combine any of these functions? For example, if I pasted the code from rc.local.s10 into the bottom of rc.local.s20 would it be able to perform both functions (inserting the subject line and the footer) within a single rc.local.s20 file?
As an alternative, can I just create another rc.local.sXX file (rc.local.s30?) and add the call to rc.custom?
Thanks, Irwin
Could I ask for a brief description of what this confirm package is? Is it a way to filter incoming messages (from subscribers) from the increasing amount of spam messages? I would be very interested in such a script.
My list is moderated, so none of the incoming crap ever gets distributed, but it is an annoying PITA to even see it.
On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, Stan Goodman wrote:
Could I ask for a brief description of what this confirm package is? Is it a way to filter incoming messages (from subscribers) from the increasing amount of spam messages? I would be very interested in such a script.
It is a way to implement closed-loop confirmation of subscriptions, (aka double opt-in) using cookies, like any modern mailing list manager is expected to do these days (so that you can't subscribe an address to the list if you can't read mail sent to such address).
My list is moderated, so none of the incoming crap ever gets distributed, but it is an annoying PITA to even see it.
Try using a good DNSBL, if you don't use any yet. cbl.abuseat.org would be a good start.
Also, try using a MTA which has HELO checks and use them.
** Reply to message from Santiago Vila sanvila@unex.es on Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:42:32 +0100 (CET)
On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, Stan Goodman wrote:
Could I ask for a brief description of what this confirm package is? Is it a way to filter incoming messages (from subscribers) from the increasing amount of spam messages? I would be very interested in such a script.
It is a way to implement closed-loop confirmation of subscriptions, (aka double opt-in) using cookies, like any modern mailing list manager is expected to do these days (so that you can't subscribe an address to the list if you can't read mail sent to such address).
It's my understanding that Smartlist is not really considered by those who know their way around the subject far better than me to fall in the category of "modern mailing list manager". I would look for a more modern one, but the manager I use is what is made available to me by the hosting service where my list and my website reside. I have no control over that.
My list is moderated, so none of the incoming crap ever gets distributed, but it is an annoying PITA to even see it.
Try using a good DNSBL, if you don't use any yet. cbl.abuseat.org would be a good start.
Also, try using a MTA which has HELO checks and use them.
I confess that the initials flummox me (I think I remember the underground rapid transit system in Singapore being called the Metropolitan Transit Authority). Worse yet, there does not seem to be a server at cbl.abuseat.org, so I can't hope to find out there.
Smartlist mailing list Smartlist@lists.RWTH-Aachen.DE http://MailMan.RWTH-Aachen.DE/mailman/listinfo/smartlist
On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, Stan Goodman wrote:
Santiago Vila wrote:
It is a way to implement closed-loop confirmation of subscriptions, (aka double opt-in) using cookies, like any modern mailing list manager is expected to do these days (so that you can't subscribe an address to the list if you can't read mail sent to such address).
It's my understanding that Smartlist is not really considered by those who know their way around the subject far better than me to fall in the category of "modern mailing list manager". [...]
Yes, I agree. I did not mean to say that SmartList was a "modern" MLM. I really meant the opposite: As SmartList does not have confirmation of subscriptions by default, which is a very important feature these days, you should probably not use SmartList without the confirm add-on.
Try using a good DNSBL, if you don't use any yet. cbl.abuseat.org would be a good start.
Also, try using a MTA which has HELO checks and use them.
I confess that the initials flummox me (I think I remember the underground rapid transit system in Singapore being called the Metropolitan Transit Authority).
MTA: Mail Transport Agent, i.e. postfix, exim, sendmail, etc.
Worse yet, there does not seem to be a server at cbl.abuseat.org, so I can't hope to find out there.
works for me.
** Reply to message from Santiago Vila sanvila@unex.es on Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:27:17 +0100 (CET)
On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, Stan Goodman wrote:
Santiago Vila wrote:
It is a way to implement closed-loop confirmation of subscriptions, (aka double opt-in) using cookies, like any modern mailing list manager is expected to do these days (so that you can't subscribe an address to the list if you can't read mail sent to such address).
It's my understanding that Smartlist is not really considered by those who know their way around the subject far better than me to fall in the category of "modern mailing list manager". [...]
Yes, I agree. I did not mean to say that SmartList was a "modern" MLM. I really meant the opposite: As SmartList does not have confirmation of subscriptions by default, which is a very important feature these days, you should probably not use SmartList without the confirm add-on.
Try using a good DNSBL, if you don't use any yet. cbl.abuseat.org would be a good start.
Also, try using a MTA which has HELO checks and use them.
I confess that the initials flummox me (I think I remember the underground rapid transit system in Singapore being called the Metropolitan Transit Authority).
MTA: Mail Transport Agent, i.e. postfix, exim, sendmail, etc.
Worse yet, there does not seem to be a server at cbl.abuseat.org, so I can't hope to find out there.
works for me.
It worked for me too just now. It didn't before, though I had pasted it into the browser's URL window, and the browser had suppoied the missing "http://". Perhpas the DNS was down at the moment.
But I am not sure that solutions of this sort are meaningful for me, if I understand this one correctly. As I explained before, the list server is not on a machine that is under my control, because it is on the hosting service. I can't bring it under my control, because I don't run Linux. I'm considering approaching the hosting service with a request to replace Smartlist with a different package, written for an environment more like what we have today (junk, spam, high-school kids without girlfriends who consequently have more time on their hands than can be spent constructively).
In the meantime, I will set a filter to protect my inbox from the bounce messages that the administrator of this list has caused to be directed to its subscribers. The list shouldn't be part of the problem, as it is.
On 1/8/05 3:37, Stan Goodman wrote: ...
Is it a way to filter incoming messages (from subscribers) from the increasing amount of spam messages? I would be very interested in such a script.
My list is moderated, so none of the incoming crap ever gets distributed, but it is an annoying PITA to even see it.
Stan,
I ran several lists (using smartlist) on servers over which I had no control for a number of years and had zero real spam on the lists without even having to have them moderated (so I never saw it either). The key was simply to be strict about what was acceptable:
no html no attachments reasonable size limitations only subscribers allowed to post no automatic subscription (either a confirm package or by-invitation-only)
plus a few simple tests to catch the occasional virus-generated spoof.
Rich
** Reply to message from Richard Ball rgball@ellerbach.com on Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:26:41 -0500
On 1/8/05 3:37, Stan Goodman wrote: ...
Is it a way to filter incoming messages (from subscribers) from the increasing amount of spam messages? I would be very interested in such a script.
My list is moderated, so none of the incoming crap ever gets distributed, but it is an annoying PITA to even see it.
Stan,
I ran several lists (using smartlist) on servers over which I had no control for a number of years and had zero real spam on the lists without even having to have them moderated (so I never saw it either)
I too was untroubled until about a year ago. The difference now is that I get bombarded with crap from non-subscribers sending me HTML and attachements with apparent viruses.
The key was simply to be strict about what was acceptable:
no html no attachments
I do not allow either HTML or attachments (which usually appear to be viruses).
reasonable size limitations
Junk/spam doesn't seem to be in enormous messages, and I don't see responses from the list that an incoming message was too long. The rejection messages that I do see are for HTML and attachments. I get a copy of the rejection, of course; another copy is sent to the sender, who doesn't exist, so I get a bounce message from the ISP whose domain he is using. I would like to throttle the sons of bitches.
only subscribers allowed to post
I allow posts only from subscribers. What I would REALLY like is to prevent rejection messages to non-subscribers, and for the test for such incoming mail to precede the tests for HTML and attachments. That would make life bearable all by itself.
no automatic subscription (either a confirm package or by-invitation-only)
I am the only one on the planet that can subscribe anybody. Anybody can unsubscribe without help from me, although few bother, e.g. when they change ISPs.
plus a few simple tests to catch the occasional virus-generated spoof.
I don't think I need anything like that, if I can block incoming messages from non-subscribers without generating a rejection notice to the offender.
On 1/8/05 10:23, Stan Goodman wrote:
I allow posts only from subscribers. What I would REALLY like is to prevent rejection messages to non-subscribers, and for the test for such incoming mail to precede the tests for HTML and attachments. That would make life bearable all by itself.
Yes, that is how I configured things a couple of years ago to solve the same thing you are also seeing. I don't have the rc.* sources available right now but I think I just put that into rc.local.r00 (anything coming from a non-subscriber was classified as spam unless it had my X-Mailing-List: header).
Rich
On Sat, Jan 08, 2005 at 5:23:45PM +0200, Stan Goodman wrote:
if I can block incoming messages from non-subscribers without generating a rejection notice to the offender.
You'll want to put something in rc.local.s00 and rc.local.r00. Unless you want to write your own procmail recipes (which can be pretty straightforward for simple-minded blockage), you might see if SpamAssasin is available at your site. I believe it's designed to go easily into those rc.local files, and has an excellent reputation for blocking spam.
I don't use it myself, so I've said the extent of my knowledge on SA.
Jim
smartlist@lists.rwth-aachen.de
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Donald MacDougall -
Irwin Lazar -
Jim Osborn -
Richard Ball -
Santiago Vila -
Stan Goodman