Re: just...wow.

[Steven Bellovin <smb () cs columbia edu>]

On Dec 30, 2009, at 1:04 PM, Jerry Pasker wrote:

> I got this email inquiring about data center space, from the most honest scumbag, *EVER* today.  Operational 
> relevance?  Well, if everyone would turn these people down, we'd have a lot less problems to deal with.  Sadly, 
> requests like these happen far too often, but never have I had someone come right out and explain what they were 
> doing up front like this without having to dig in to it.
>
> Scumbag email:
> ------------
> Hello,
>
> I need servers to host botnet controller. Botnet controller is software that sends tasks to bots. Bots are hosts 
> which send spam emails to millions of addresses. It's not direct spam but abuses on botnet contoller are received 
> from time to time. What is your policy in case of receiving abuses and what is your policy in case of receiving a lot 
> of abuses? What is policy about spam (not direct from your ips as I mentioned above)? Is it possible to host botnet 
> controller in your datacenter during long-term time?
>
> Thank you.
> --------------
>
> The part that leaves me  feeling good is that they do get abuse complaints from time to time.  There's hope.

Of course, it could also be a joe job to frame the inquirer...

                --Steve Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb