Lee Cognetta wrote: >I think that this is disgraceful and totally agree that the easiest >thing for the initial poster to have done was to simply email the person >and try to verify that she has a valid interest in the lists she has >joined. A reasonable suggestion. And one that might be used if the one sending the verification request really thinks the questionable address is legitimate. But if the subscriber IS a potentially malicious then this gives then a valid email address to add to their list. There are two options for admins - 1. Require all subscribers to confirm their subscription request (under Privacy Options on the Admin's Tool page). This may still let a few through, but most spammers are pretty much automated and confirmation takes more effort. 2. As suggested here, simply place the subscriber on moderation until after the first couple of posting. If the postings are legitimate, simply remove the moderation and forget it. But if the postings are malicious, then (in order of importance: A. Unsubscribe them B. Ban them C. Notify HelpDesk D. Notify you fellow Admins here (probably not necessary if you do C). There is nothing big deal about all this. This is just our usual job. Lee Hoffman/KY TMG Tips: <http://www.tmgtips.com> My website: <http://www.tmgtips.com/lhoffman> A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)

On 2/20/2012 11:51 AM, Lee Hoffman wrote: > Lee Cognetta wrote: >> I think that this is disgraceful and totally agree that the easiest >> thing for the initial poster to have done was to simply email the person >> and try to verify that she has a valid interest in the lists she has >> joined. > > A reasonable suggestion. And one that might be used if the one > sending the verification request really thinks the questionable > address is legitimate. But if the subscriber IS a potentially > malicious then this gives then a valid email address to add to their list. ... Lee H.: David Mc. has been around a while as a list admin, and his approach is valid and reasonable. He wasn't treating this subscriber address any differently than he treats any other new subscriber, and what he does has no negative effect on that subscriber (except perhaps a short delay in posting their first message or two). What I find almost humorous, but definitely annoying, is the continuing *discussion* of this address -- as if we are likely to force new information to the surface by sheer volume of words. Throwaway e-mail addresses are available, for free. If this subscriber address is *THAT* interesting to you, get one of these throwaways and use it just long enough to verify whatever there is to verify. End of problem. Perhaps even end of discussion. One can always hope. No, I'm NOT suggesting this thread be involuntarily terminated. My Delete key still works, and an occasional comment in the discussion has proved worth reading. Perhaps this one? Perhaps not. Darrell