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Monkeying around with mail and whois

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:36 pm
by Ambush Commander
My domain htmlpurifier.org recently got attention on a number of newsgroups when someone started cross-posting links for HTML Purifier. While I like the promotion, the reputation behind the poster and the heavy cross-posting (I think it was to four or five lists) may have done more harm than good.

Several users now allege that the domain has been reported to ICANN, IC3 and RFC-Ignorant for certain mishaps, mostly to do with WHOIS records and mail.

I'm trying to figure out what to do.
  • Apparently, WHOIS cloaking goes against ICANN policies. Should I disable it on htmlpurifier.org address and put up real mailing information?
  • I purposely disabled the postmaster address in order to help reduce spam. However, it seems that the RFC requires that this address, along with abuse, must be active. What should I do?
  • IC3 and ICANN don't seem to list pending complaints. Is there anything I need to do here?
  • Finally, I only found this because I have Google Alerts on HTML Purifier and I encountered the thread merely by chance. Of course, none of the complainers contacted me. How can I make sure I don't get caught blindsided again?

Re: Monkeying around with mail and whois

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:26 pm
by RobertGonzalez
This totally sounds like something right down Chris Corbyn's alley.

Re: Monkeying around with mail and whois

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:26 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Everah wrote:This totally sounds like something right down Chris Corbyn's alley.
I won't pretend to know much about this. I know some spam detection systems will block you if you don't have a postmaster@domain.tld address so I'd definitely create that. The abuse@domain.tld thing sounds reasonable too, so I'd create that. I mean, you don't really have to monitor them, just have them there and ignore them pretty much.

Hiding your whois details always seemed a little dodgy to me. I generally show my details, but again, I just use an address which isn't regularly checked (i.e. not my personal inbox).

Re: Monkeying around with mail and whois

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:11 pm
by Ambush Commander
Thank you for your reasonable advice. I think that's just what I'll do.

Do you use a PO box or your home address?

Re: Monkeying around with mail and whois

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:17 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Ambush Commander wrote:Thank you for your reasonable advice. I think that's just what I'll do.

Do you use a PO box or your home address?
Home address, although it's not up-to-date since moving overseas :)