Re: A flood of spams - another virus on the way?

From: Don Sykes (anonymous_at_pacbell.net)
Date: 09/20/03


Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 19:32:50 GMT


As I've been complaining about recently, I can't even get the HP SMTP
service to check incoming messgaes for a valid user during the initial
connection, which IIRC could be done in the 2nd step of the connection
process!

This most recent onslaught of crap is just another example of what the
problem REALLY is - i.e. no check points along the email path. In the
current SMTP model the only one who even has an opportunity to block
spam & assc viruses is the end receipient. This means that even if you
have a "good filter" on your email reader and don't ever "see" the bad
emails, an enormous amount of bandwidth is taken up on the internet,
because each piece of crap sent out gets the same treatment all along
the way to the destination user. Only then do we get a chance to ignore
it. So who's at fault? Our own industry for embracing tcpip/smtp as the
holly grail in its original form - i.e. no forced checkpoints. As I see
it any ISP that is authorized to hand out an IP address s/b responsible
for its misuse. They should at minimum be required to check the source
of all email to be sure it's valid and has not been spoofed. Further
each of the ISP's customers should have to register an approximate
number of emails they will be sending out in any one day. Then if they
grossly exceeded that, the initial ISP router should reject further
emails and immediately inform their customer of the action. Any ISP
failing to do this should have their IP addresses revoked or put on a
lookaside list of all legit routers and not route emails from them.

Granted this is a half-baked idea at this point, but if WE, as a
community, are ever going to stop this madness, we're going to have to
come up with a technical solution at a fundamental, routing level; not
just add more and different filters for the end user to implement.

-- 
Have VMS, Will Travel
Wire paladin, San Francisco
(paladinATalphaseDOTcom)
Paul Sture wrote:
> 
> More spams. Is this another virus / worm on the loose?
> 
> Since 13:44 CET yesterday I have received some 114 spam messages (oops, another
> one just came in) in this  account.
> 
> Normally I just get 3 or 4 per day. Spam filters are in place and the last
> time they were adjusted was for the last round of email attacks - SoBig.F
> 
> I don't have time to analyze the contents of any at the moment, but here's
> a summary for the rest of you:
> 
> $ mail
> 
> You have 112 new messages.
> 
> MAIL> dir
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>     1 MX%"rcfgam-svmrgrq@n 18-SEP-2003  new microsoft patch
>     2 MX%"amailprogram@roc 18-SEP-2003  Returned Message
>     3 MX%"eknlmalraq_57934 18-SEP-2003  Network Security Pack.
>     4 MX%"rob@mirr.demon.n 18-SEP-2003  Newest Microsoft Critical Patch
>     5 MX%"qmailengine@amer 18-SEP-2003  failure message
>     6 MX%"smtpautomat@yaho 18-SEP-2003  Failure Announcement
>     7 MX%"kuraokmiignvzm@n 18-SEP-2003  New Internet Critical Patch
>     8 MX%"checkme2003@yaho 18-SEP-2003  Absolutely FREE!!! Time:12:38:55 PM
>     9 MX%"tixqspiniqtek_fm 18-SEP-2003  Latest Internet Upgrade
>    10 MX%"tlgthochrtra-nzb 18-SEP-2003
>    11 MX%"cmailprogram@yah 18-SEP-2003  Failure Letter
>    12 MX%"kmailengine@aol. 18-SEP-2003  Abort Advice
>    13 MX%"yqhmxezrgggdvci@ 18-SEP-2003  new microsoft critical patch
>    14 MX%"conch49@bellsout 18-SEP-2003  Latest Update
>    15 MX%"mailerrobot@free 18-SEP-2003  abort advice
>    16 MX%"mailroutine@bigf 18-SEP-2003  Undelivered Message User unknown
>    17 MX%"MAILER-DAEMON@bo 18-SEP-2003  Virus warning
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>    18 MX%"MAILER-DAEMON@bo 18-SEP-2003  Virus warning
>    19 MX%"srwmuivjriglae@f 18-SEP-2003  Net Critical Update
>    20 MX%"emailbot@aol.com 18-SEP-2003  Message
>    21 MX%"xnfirkakou@newsl 18-SEP-2003  newest net patch
>    22 MX%"gbivjcjvmebyoz-o 18-SEP-2003  Current Security Patch
>    23 MX%"masterdaemon@fre 18-SEP-2003  Mail: Returned To Sender
>    24 MX%"jfdpecdd-zqoklwg 18-SEP-2003  Newest Internet Security Upgrade
>    25 ***     valid message here     ***
>    26 MX%"postservice@micr 18-SEP-2003  Failure Announcement
>    27 MX%"mcbroom5@teluspl 19-SEP-2003  Abort Message
>    28 MX%"spdtydmvqwdcrkx@ 19-SEP-2003  New Security Upgrade
>    29 MX%"quceoiuevmhfnm-l 19-SEP-2003  Latest Net Patch
>    30 MX%"mimi-6@comcast.n 19-SEP-2003  Internet Update
>    31 MX%"emailprogram@roc 19-SEP-2003  Bug Notice
>    32 MX%"Antivirus-Daemon 19-SEP-2003  Recipient Virus-alert (sender: wibi@sybe
>    33 MX%"tpbjvsxt-psvzeyw 19-SEP-2003  Latest Network Upgrade
>    34 MX%"mailerservice@ro 19-SEP-2003  Undeliverable Message: Returned To Maile
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>    35 MX%"wvzaampltzt@tech 19-SEP-2003  Newest Internet Update
>    36 MX%"sjolmws_mmsfa@yy 19-SEP-2003  Current Internet Security Update
>    37 MX%"aeskfojazs@advis 19-SEP-2003  Latest Internet Patch
>    38 MX%"amaildaemon@amer 19-SEP-2003  Report
>    39 MX%"fqaxksowjxe_cxri 19-SEP-2003  New Security Pack
>    40 MX%"dennismonk@adalp 19-SEP-2003  advice
>    41 MX%"vrcxctaxxskau@co 19-SEP-2003  Last Security Update
>    42 MX%"jsjssekggesmh@up 19-SEP-2003  Newest Microsoft Critical Pack
>    43 MX%"masterbot@yahoo. 19-SEP-2003  Undelivered Message: Returned To Mailer
>    44 MX%"webroutine@rocke 19-SEP-2003  Undeliverable Mail: Returned To Sender
>    45 MX%"zmailautomat@mic 19-SEP-2003  Announcement
>    46 MX%"fdjiybui@bulleti 19-SEP-2003  New Internet Critical Patch
>    47 MX%"postdaemon@micro 19-SEP-2003  Undelivered Mail: Returned To Sender
>    48 MX%"vfdujxlayoougai_ 19-SEP-2003  Last Internet Critical Pack
>    49 MX%"tmdyvsf@newslett 19-SEP-2003  last microsoft critical pack
>    50 MX%"mailerform@purem 19-SEP-2003  Returned Message User unknown
>    51 MX%"noinjbqxfomyiz_h 19-SEP-2003  Last Internet Security Upgrade
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>    52 MX%"emailprogram@aol 19-SEP-2003  Bug Notice
>    53 MX%"ccumfrmlhsvezne_ 19-SEP-2003  Net Security Update
>    54 MX%"xvhehc@newslette 19-SEP-2003  Internet Critical Upgrade
>    55 MX%"webform@yahoo.co 19-SEP-2003  Bug Notice
>    56 MX%"lnlhqdqvk-nncvtq 19-SEP-2003  Latest Microsoft Critical Upgrade
>    57 MX%"pvlqyz@confidenc 19-SEP-2003  Latest Network Update
>    58 MX%"emailautomat@roc 19-SEP-2003
>    59 MX%"ktztcmnppffyjhz@ 19-SEP-2003  Newest Internet Critical Pack
>    60 MX%"postdaemon@purem 19-SEP-2003  message
>    61 MX%"vjjnawljmkk-avqm 19-SEP-2003  Latest Network Security Update
>    62 MX%"mailservice@rock 19-SEP-2003  notice
>    63 MX%"MAILER-DAEMON@cn 19-SEP-2003  message
>    64 MX%"hqjgmmna@updates 19-SEP-2003  Last Microsoft Security Upgrade
>    65 MX%"webautomat@ameri 19-SEP-2003  Message: User unknown
>    66 MX%"jfzaopfimsuj-qfl 19-SEP-2003  New Net Critical Update
>    67 MX%"azncwgoj_osqtv@u 19-SEP-2003  Latest Network Security Update
>    68 MX%"zmmcclfkfqvande- 19-SEP-2003  Latest Internet Upgrade
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>    69 MX%"mailprogram@bigf 19-SEP-2003  Failure Notice
>    70 MX%"vkckdghoseko@new 19-SEP-2003  Internet Critical Pack
>    71 MX%"smtpautomat@netm 19-SEP-2003
>    72 MX%"twestzrshxsl_qbb 19-SEP-2003  Latest Internet Critical Update
>    73 MX%"eagabohf_wvopm@n 19-SEP-2003  New Update
>    74 MX%"emailform@netmai 19-SEP-2003  Undelivered Message: Returned To Sender
>    75 MX%"fdwetxnrikiatn_z 19-SEP-2003  Last Upgrade
>    76 MX%"webprogram@freem 19-SEP-2003  error message
>    77 MX%"owypdvkvddffd_hp 19-SEP-2003  Latest Critical Update
>    78 MX%"mailerengine@aol 19-SEP-2003  Error Message
>    79 MX%"shposik@wpube.co 19-SEP-2003  latest microsoft critical update
>    80 MX%"gdadlgc_lhvwztzr 19-SEP-2003  Latest Internet Pack
>    81 MX%"masterrobot@free 19-SEP-2003  failure advice
>    82 MX%"mailerdaemon@aol 19-SEP-2003  Notice
>    83 MX%"vyqlltijy@newsle 19-SEP-2003
>    84 MX%"vapxjfszdo@suppo 19-SEP-2003  Latest Patch
>    85 MX%"mwoxbkemhk@updat 19-SEP-2003  Newest Microsoft Critical Pack
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>    86 MX%"postdaemon@ameri 19-SEP-2003  returned message
>    87 MX%"postrobot@rocket 19-SEP-2003  Error Letter
>    88 MX%"qfhormtdlsqfku@t 19-SEP-2003  Network Upgrade
>    89 MX%"bjugiww@bulletin 19-SEP-2003  Pack
>    90 MX%"haashk@netvigato 19-SEP-2003  Undelivered Mail: User unknown
>    91 MX%"mcnjbhpc-oafi@bu 19-SEP-2003  Current Security Patch
>    92 MX%"webbot@america.c 19-SEP-2003
>    93 MX%"qdgonoc-rgrb@new 19-SEP-2003  New Microsoft Patch
>    94 MX%"cpuguqqidnjvg_or 19-SEP-2003  New Internet Security Update
>    95 MX%"fnzusou_cvnhcso@ 19-SEP-2003  New Net Security Patch
>    96 MX%"postdaemon@yahoo 19-SEP-2003  bug message
>    97 MX%"bmailrobot@ameri 19-SEP-2003  Bug Report
>    98 MX%"pxrjnr_lgmzyg@bu 19-SEP-2003  Last Microsoft Update
>    99 MX%"reoyqoj_gcrutohu 19-SEP-2003  Security Patch
>   100 MX%"webautomat@rocke 19-SEP-2003  Bug Advice
>   101 MX%"xovfjaqjm_opjtif 19-SEP-2003  Latest Net Security Patch
>   102 MX%"mailerengine@fre 19-SEP-2003  Announcement
> Press RETURN for more...
> 
> MAIL>
>                                                                          NEWMAIL
>     # From                 Date         Subject
> 
>   103 MX%"mplrco-tmmppz@co 19-SEP-2003  Current Microsoft Critical Patch
>   104 MX%"mailerprogram@am 19-SEP-2003  Notice
>   105 MX%"eqokxhwcarcj@new 19-SEP-2003  New Network Security Update
>   106 MX%"mailbot@yahoo.co 19-SEP-2003  Undelivered Message: Returned To Sender
>   107 MX%"imdupgds_bbsvdrl 19-SEP-2003  Latest Net Patch
>   108 MX%"mailservice@yaho 19-SEP-2003  Mail: Returned To Sender
>   109 MX%"ekjlwjephctmtx_h 19-SEP-2003  new net critical update
>   110 MX%"szjdrqhozxmy-lhc 19-SEP-2003  last internet critical pack
>   111 MX%"smtprobot@freema 19-SEP-2003  error notice
>   112 MX%"maildaemon@netma 19-SEP-2003  Undeliverable Message: User unknown
> 
> MAIL>
> 
> And another just arrived.
> 
> Now, these appear to be junk addresses, but allegedly coming from valid
> domains - msn.com, msn.net, yahoo.com, microsoft.com, support.com and other
> well known ones.
> 
> 99% seem to be coming from .net and .com addresses, so I also wonder
> whether this could be a side effect of the VeriSign change -
> reverse lookups and RBLs not functioning properly anymore ??
> 
> Meanwhile on checking another email account, I see my spam filter there
> caught one entitled "PayPal Account Security Measures". This one is
> inviting me to verify my account details. Nope. Not going there...
> 
> And they are still rolling in by the minute. Definitely not a good day
> for email.


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