StreamyNUT blocks SMTP Port 25 for non-streamyx servers

[peaz]

Sigh.... luckily switching over to another port works. Just tested Port 587 instead. Phew.. looks like my initial assumption that they also block SMTP packets is not true, thankfully.

[ZuePhok]

panic mode -> ON!

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

panic mode -> ON!

For me, it's PISSED MODE ON!

[Adrian Wong]

Sending this e-mail to the newspapers :

Dear Editor,

Yesterday, we received an e-mail (attached) from Telekom Malaysia, informing us that they were immediately blocking port 25 to help reduce spamming. At first glance, it may sound like a great idea but there are a couple of snags :

Blocking port 25 will not help prevent spamming in the long run. It will only inconvenience the spammers for a few minutes. Any half-decent spammer can use a different port to circumvent the block.

TM implemented the block without prior warning. As such, those who use their own (non-TM) e-mail servers will NOT be able to send out their e-mails once the block is in place.

The only solution is to use TM's open-relay proxy server. This is where TM's actions turn from totally useless to absolutely dangerous.

Our webmaster had already written a letter of complaint to the MCMC, pointing out the futility (and stupidity) of this action. Here are some reasons why TMNet's method will NOT prevent spamming and is really a threat to genuine users.

1. Using open-relay proxy SMTP is not an option as there are a lot of e-mail servers that would reject any e-mails sent from an open-relay SMTP server (such as the one suggested by Streamyx) and this would mean that our legitimate emails would be blocked.
2. What’s the point of blocking Port 25 and yet use an open-relay SMTP proxy? This would just allow spammers to flood this open relay proxy. In turn, this server would then be included into international RBLs and our legitimate emails would be blocked
3. If our emails are being proxied through this open relay server, what is the security, audit and privacy standards are in put place to assure users like us that our emails would NOT BE STORED on their server and WOULD NOT BE READ or SNIFFED at all. Our privacy is at stake here.
4. And in any case that this open relay SMTP proxy server is down, how can we send out our emails then? What are the SLAs that is in place for this proxy server? Why penalise us users when we PAY MONEY for our own SMTP server to avoid being caught by our dear ISP’s ‘reliability’ in the first place?
5. For mobile users which hops around Internet connections, from home Streamyx to public WiFi such as from Starbucks and ETC, always changing the SMTP settings aren’t exactly a consumer friendly solution.

If TMNet is genuine about blocking spammers, they can easily block port 25 for those spammers. There is virtually no need to block port 25 for all users and force them to use a proxy server (and an open relay at that) to send their e-mails out. Not only does that make it extremely easy for EVERYONE using the TMNet proxy to get blacklisted as soon as a spammer hits it, it means all our e-mails will stay in the proxy server for some time and can be stored, read, filtered, etc.

TMNet did not mention anything about privacy and security of the proxy server. Neither have they given us any assurance that the proxy server will reliably forward all e-mails to their actual mail servers without being stored, read, filtered, etc. Oh, did I already mention that blocking port 25 can be easily circumvented by switching to a different port?

We question TM's wholesale blocking of port 25 and the use of an open-relay proxy system. We also question how they implemented it. It was certainly done without thought and consideration for TM customers. It also makes us wonder about the true intention of the whole exercise.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Over here for access to mail servers, we simply use the ISP's SMTP server (like smtp.comcast.net / smtp.central.cox.net) to send emails (outbound). For the other one its the normal POP3 or IMAP (mmm IMAP).

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

Over here for access to mail servers, we simply use the ISP's SMTP server (like smtp.comcast.net / smtp.central.cox.net) to send emails (outbound). For the other one its the normal POP3 or IMAP (mmm IMAP).

That's because you are using your ISP's mail servers.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Yeah, outbound emails go thru their servers. To prevent spam I think.

[peaz]

seriously, i think it's a retarded way of reducing spam. it's not like there's less spam anyway. sheesh.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Well as long as my outgoing emails get to where I sent them, I could really care less.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

Well as long as my outgoing emails get to where I sent them, I could really care less.

We can't do the same cause we are using our own e-mail server.