Hi Garry:
I would just like to emphasize how serious the EarthLink spamming problem has been, and how badly this has affected your company's reputation. For its size, I would say that EarthLink has been the number one source of Usenet and UCE spam, either directly or as an (unwitting) relay. Indeed, on the Usenet groups devoted to Internet abuse, Earthlink is often referred to as "Earthstink."
Of late there _has_ been considerable improvement, and the relaying appears to have been halted. However, there is still an enormous problem with the UUNET and PSi POP's, and this means that most Internet users' first contact with EarthLink is still likely to be an unwanted email ad for some sleazy sex service with EarthLink's name all over the headers.
I know you have limited resources, but my view is that this problem should be your highest priority. I think that Nick Christenson, one of your employees who posts on the Usenet abuse groups has been doing an excellent job, but he has a huge task overcoming the overwhelming (and deserved) skepticism that he faces there. My advice would be to ensure that he has all the support he needs to deal with this problem, and that you are forthright with the Internet community about how and when you are going to deal with your continuing problems in this area.
Peter
P.S. With your permission, I'd like to post any reply you might make (without your email address!) to news.admin.net-abuse.email, the Usenet group devoted to fighting email abuses. |
