The problems associated with operating an effective "block list"
system in an increasingly hostile environment.
- Robert Gallagher
Supervisor: Howard Duncan
Unsolicited bulk email, commonly referred to as 'Spam', is a widely acknowledged problem.
Several solutions have been proposed which range from placing levies on email
in order to undermine the bulk emailing business model to including a
new 'spam' field in email message headers. These solutions would be very
difficult to implement on top of the current email system, because of
its widespread deployment. They also assume cooperation from the bulk
emailers.
Anti-spam 'blocklist' sites have taken a more direct approach by providing email
users and Internet Service Providers with databases of Internet hosts known to harbour
spammers. However, as bulk emailers have become more sophisticated in their techniques
these block list sites are falling under attack.
This practicum will investigate the problems faced by blocklist systems
and will outline a solution based around a distributed blocklist system.