EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS ABOUT SPAM: Just because an email "says" 
it comes from an address like "[log in to unmask]" does not mean that it 
actually comes from there.  The senders (either human or program) could be 
masking the address, and they do.  This happens both randomly and 
purposefully.  In fact there are probably people out there in the world 
receiving mail that is masked to look like it's coming from YOUR email 
address, especially if your email address is on a webpage somewhere.

So the long and short of it is that, with spam today, even if it "says" it 
came from muninet, it doesn't necessarily mean that that it DID.  And 
that's really nothing that Peter Brownell can do anything about.  It isn't 
his fault.  It isn't muninet's fault.  It's just the Internet today.

Cheers,
Chip
_________________
WILL SAWYER
Outreach Coordinator
Center for Rural Studies
http://crs.uvm.edu
207 Morrill Hall
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
Phone: 802.656.0892
Email: [log in to unmask] 



On Thu, 9 Feb 2006 09:52:12 -0500, Paulette Lafond 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>This seems to be an ongoing concern with several out there, but I think
>the confusion here is that people are thinking that because they are
>signed up to Muninet, they are getting this junk --- it has nothing to
>do with being signed up to the listserve Muninet. I would hate to see
>people start pulling off Muninet because they think this is the problem.
>This listserve is very helpful to us all at various times. 
> 
>You are getting the junk simply by being connected to the outside world
>- ie. internet or email in general. The junk (SPAM) is getting through
>your individual filtering process on your individual workstation or
>through your server's firewall. Some SPAM filtering software out there
>does a pretty good job of not letting it get through, but,
>unfortunately, unless the town wants to invest $2,000 - $3,0000 in
>something like a Barracuda Spam Firewall, it is going to come through.
>Receiving SPAM is one of the biggest complaints from our employees here
>- and we have a pretty intense firewall setup but only limited filtering
>involved. For those of you who use Outlook 2003, they have a pretty good
>filtering system that might help with some of it.  Hope this helps. 
> 
>Paulette M. LaFond
>Asst. Town Clerk/Treasurer
>Town of Milton
>PO Box 18
>Milton, VT 05468
>802-893-4111
>email: [log in to unmask] 
>Website: www.milton.govoffice2.com <http://www.milton.govoffice2.com/> 
> 
>
>
>________________________________
>
>From: Vermont Municipal Government Discussion Network
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eden TAX
>Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 8:57 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: SPAM Protection on MUNINET
>
>
>Peter: there seem to be different kinds of SPAM.  We get several notices
>from software developers, which are OK -- we even from time to time
>respond.  We also get notices for "bargain" software, for Viagra, for
>Rolex watches.  Is there some way like what several web services use, to
>create a "favorites" list so that messages from sources we do not
>bookmark would be rejected?  In this case it may be very complex.  Bruce
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Peter Brownell
><mailto:[log in to unmask]>  
> To: [log in to unmask] 
> Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 8:39 AM
> Subject: SPAM Protection on MUNINET
>
>
> Hi All, 
>
> Your friendly MUNINET listserv administrator here. 
>
> I noticed several messages recently regarding unwanted SPAM (is
>there such a thing as "wanted" spam?).  It is a real headache for us
>all.
>
> We really shouldn't be getting any spam messages on this list,
>not because there is some sophisticated spam filter, but because people
>must subscribe to the list before they can send messages to the list
>members.  Spammers can't/don't sign up.  It's not generally worth their
>time.  If anyone signs up who shouldn't, I will just delete and block
>them from joining.
>
> Thanks to everyone who participates in this list.  It is still
>one of the longest running most well used lists in the state.  It is
>successful because YOU use it.
>
> Keep up the great work. 
>
> Best 
>   Peter 
>     :-) 
>
> ------------------------------------ 
> Peter Brownell 
> Federal Fiscal Services Team 
> Vermont Department of Education
> 120 State Street
> Montpelier, VT 05620-2501 
> 802-828-0289 
>
>
>
>