RE: tz list searchable on Google
I'm also worried about spam; that's why electronic mail addresses have been purged from the time zone distribution (and most especially from the source data files such as "northamerica" which end up on millions of computers worldwide). The gmane site's archive of stuff that's gone out on the time zone mailing list extends back to July 2004; has tz-linked spam been seen since then? And...if the gmane mailing list archive is a bad thing, is the elsie ftpable mailing list archive also a bad thing (or is security through difficulty of use sufficient)? --ado
Never been aware of spam arizing from tz Alan Pritchard On 5/22/06, Olson, Arthur David (NIH/NCI) [E] <olsona@dc37a.nci.nih.gov> wrote:
I'm also worried about spam; that's why electronic mail addresses have been purged from the time zone distribution (and most especially from the source data files such as "northamerica" which end up on millions of computers worldwide).
The gmane site's archive of stuff that's gone out on the time zone mailing list extends back to July 2004; has tz-linked spam been seen since then?
And...if the gmane mailing list archive is a bad thing, is the elsie ftpable mailing list archive also a bad thing (or is security through difficulty of use sufficient)?
--ado
-- Best wishes Alan Pritchard MPhil FCLIP MBCS The GLOBAL GAZETTEER(tm): the world on file http://www.allm-geodata.com Tel: +44 (0) 1202 417 477 --------------------------------------------------------
At 10:32 AM -0400 5/22/06, Olson, Arthur David \(NIH/NCI\) [E] wrote:
I'm also worried about spam; that's why electronic mail addresses have been purged from the time zone distribution (and most especially from the source data files such as "northamerica" which end up on millions of computers worldwide).
Thank you for taking this action.
The gmane site's archive of stuff that's gone out on the time zone mailing list extends back to July 2004; has tz-linked spam been seen since then?
Not that I know of. I don't think that the gmane mailing list archive currently poses a significant security threat.
And...if the gmane mailing list archive is a bad thing, is the elsie ftpable mailing list archive also a bad thing (or is security through difficulty of use sufficient)?
--ado
I think that there are two issues. One is security (spam, etc.) and the other is exposure. I understand that the tz list is public, but this new archive exposes the tz list content to anyone with a web browser. For example, all tz list content can now be searched for on Google: <http://www.google.com/search?&rls=en&q=Kirov+timezone+according+to+the+tz+da...> This is a big change. I think that this very dramatic increase in exposure will eventually have a negative affect on the list. I have seen this happen to other lists. Right now the tz list is very focused and low volume. I like that. Chuck
Chuck Soper <chucks2@veladg.com> writes:
Right now the tz list is very focused and low volume.
That's because Arthur filters out the spam. Mere exposure via Google wouldn't change that. What exposure might change is: (1) Arthur might have more spam to filter, if more spammers notice the list and send email to it. (2) Spammers might send email to you directly after harvesting your address, bypassing the tz list entirely. (1) is unimportant, since the mailing list address itself is already widely available. (2) is an issue, but it isn't that big a deal, I think. The gmane archive shrouds email addresses in a silly security-through-obscurity mechanism that probably works well enough in practice. I suppose it's a bit like tzarchive.gz in that respect. I like having searchable archives, and I like having the contents of the email (not counting email addresses) being public. If the tz list went underground its utility would be greatly reduced. People who want to send email anonymously to the list can do so indirectly by emailing it to me.
At 11:40 AM -0700 5/22/06, Paul Eggert wrote:
Chuck Soper <chucks2@veladg.com> writes:
Right now the tz list is very focused and low volume.
That's because Arthur filters out the spam. Mere exposure via Google wouldn't change that.
What exposure might change is:
(1) Arthur might have more spam to filter, if more spammers notice the list and send email to it.
(2) Spammers might send email to you directly after harvesting your address, bypassing the tz list entirely.
(1) is unimportant, since the mailing list address itself is already widely available.
(2) is an issue, but it isn't that big a deal, I think. The gmane archive shrouds email addresses in a silly security-through-obscurity mechanism that probably works well enough in practice. I suppose it's a bit like tzarchive.gz in that respect.
I agree.
I like having searchable archives, and I like having the contents of the email (not counting email addresses) being public. If the tz list went underground its utility would be greatly reduced.
I didn't mean to suggest that the tz list should go underground. I just wanted it to stay the same. Because gmane site's has been archiving tz list since July 2004, I believe that my concerns are unfounded. Any change that might have occurred has already happened. I like having searchable archives as well.
People who want to send email anonymously to the list can do so indirectly by emailing it to me.
Thank you, Chuck
participants (4)
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Alan Pritchard -
Chuck Soper -
Olson, Arthur David (NIH/NCI) [E] -
Paul Eggert