Re: [Exim] Fixing SPF Forward Problem by Reply-to: Hack?

Hi Edgar, on Sun, 21 Mar 2004 20:43:55 -0600 you wrote:

> Here is another of my nieve 'fixes' for these things...
<snip>
> start forcing ALL email they accept to have 'rDNS == IP A == HELO name',

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's thinking this. Not a complete
solution, nor addressing exactly the same problem, but it seems to me that
inventing a completely new solution (i.e. SPF) that breaks things when we
haven't even exhausted existing methods is a shame. No doubt someone will
point out how unlikely it is that everyone will ever have working rDNS - I
agree, but if that's true, what are the chances of everyone making far
bigger changes to their software to cope with SPF rewriting?

Funny how everyone shoots Greg W down in flames every time he suggests
that coherent forward/reverse DNS would be a good idea, yet so many people
seem unable to contain their excitement at the possibility of leaping onto
the SPF bandwagon. Does nobody consider that there is a reasonable chance
that in terms of stopping spam, coherent DNS could probably achieve a
similar end result to SPF, without the grief and without requiring anyone
to install/update any software whatsoever?

Furthermore, as Edgar implied, it could happen very quickly and easily -
all it would take is for, say, MSN and AOL to implement that policy and
the world would quickly follow. (In general, I don't like such large
players having so much power - especially when, like AOL, they seem
incapable of doing things right - but in this case, it could potentially
be used for good).


Tim