Osirusoft blacklists the world

[bscott at ntisys.com]

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003, at 11:27am, invalid at pizzashack.org wrote:
> ... the Internet dies just a little bit more... 

  Debatable.  Contrary to popular myth, the Internet has never been
completely open or free.

> ... such restrictions wouldn't need to exist if everyone would play nice.

  I find that statement to be incredible, especially coming from you Derek.  
I know you're not that naive.  The problem with much of human history is
that everyone does not play nice.

> All such restrictions are a Bad Thing(tm).

  Debatable.  Restrictions are inevitable in any human community which
wishes to maintain order.

> Particularly because they do absolutely nothing towards solving the
> problem they're intended to solve, and manage only to frustrate legitimate
> users.

  Actions like blocking TCP port 25 do solve problems.  These actions are
often not the best solution, they rarely solve a problem completely, and
they often cause not-insignificant collateral damage.  However, they are
also often the best practical option available to an individual network
operator.  In this case, many large operators serving ignorant end-users are
taking steps like this to block the SoBig worm, which is still circulating,
despite massive press coverage, even in the mainstream press.  The reasoning
is basically that it is better to deploy widespread blocks then let SoBig
propagate unchecked.  The lesser of two evils, in essence.  Providers will
generally make exceptions upon request (assuming, of course, that your
provider does not prohibit what you are doing (hosting services) in the
first place).

-- 
Ben Scott <bscott at ntisys.com>
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