[ih] Update on filtered list posts

[the keyboard of geoff goodfellow]

aha, now a batting out of order "process" becomes clear, viz.:

yours truly posits that the ISOC mail list PTB's have inserted
an “inappropriate” filter (double entendre on purpose :D) Postfix
before-queue Milter [http://www.postfix.org/MILTER_README.html] before it
"delivers"/"hands over" the goods (i.e. message) to the Mailman Mailing
List Manager.

how this is an apparent batting out-of-order:

the ISOC Mailman Mailing List Manager is most likely configured so as to
ONLY accept messages for distribution to IH from extant list members,
therefore preventing any (errant/non-list registered email address)
submissions to internet-history at elists.isoc.org from being "accepted" and
processed.

if the ordering were such that the Mailman Mailing List Manager address
validation took place before The Forbidden Words Filter did it's thing,
THEN a better (and more "correct") Forbidden Words Filtering could take
place after sender address validation.

then, if The Forbidden Words Filter detected A Forbidden Word, it could
then instigate a "reply" message to the already
authenticated/permitted/allowed "sender" notifying him/her to the effect
their message contained A Forbidden Word and was not redistributed to the
IH list.

geoff

On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 7:46 AM Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond via
Internet-history <internet-history at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> if you are curious, as an amusement, you can do a search on: hook-up
> spam (without the hypen) in your favourite search engine and will see
> what kind of emails this word referred to, although a word of warning,
> don't click on the links as some of them send you to unsecured places.
>
> Joking aside, Geoff Goodfellow asked whether a bounce email warning
> should be sent in return for postings that are deemed inappropriate. The
> problem is that often spam emails use a forged return address and can
> cause what's called "backscatter"
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backscatter_(email)
>
> So scanners just drop them. This is the eternal problem of "false
> positives" which has been around since the earliest days of anti-virus
> scanners.
>
> Kindest regards,
>
> Olivier
>
> On 15/09/2020 17:26, Joseph Touch via Internet-history wrote:
> > Hi, all,
> >
> > I have confirmed that ISOC runs a filter that checks for “inappropriate”
> words prior to Mailman handling.
> >
> > That filter was configured to trigger on the word “hook-up” (without the
> hyphen) due to a spam flurry a few years ago.
> >
> > That tag seems a bit too generic, as we found out. I’ve suggested they
> look for a more specific phrase if possible, but for the current time,
> please insert a hyphen or space on that word. Also, note that profanity
> also trips the trigger, though we’d appreciate avoiding those terms rather
> than trying to find work-arounds.
> >
> > FYI.
> >
> > Joe (as list admin)
>
> --
> Internet-history mailing list
> Internet-history at elists.isoc.org
> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/internet-history
>
>

-- 
Geoff.Goodfellow at iconia.com
living as The Truth is True