[Mimedefang] SMTP Error codes and phrases

[Richard Cooper]

I use 550 Spam Block - I don't really know much about the codes, although 550 seems pretty standard - but my thinking on the message was that I'd rather they know they reason for blocking. I don't think it gives any advantage to spammers (although I'm open to suggestions) yet it gives at least some info to anyone accidentally blocked wrongly (or sending legitimate mail to ex-employees, etc) whilst also letting spammers know that it is a legitimate block. Its not exactly something I spent ages contemplating, but that was my gut instinct.

Cheers
Ric

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stefano McGhee [mailto:SMcGhee at arcweb.com]
> Sent: 28 October 2002 19:43
> To: mimedefang at lists.roaringpenguin.com
> Subject: [Mimedefang] SMTP Error codes and phrases
> 
> 
> Hello all,
> 	I have a couple questions on how others are rejecting 
> mail.  First,
> what error code are you using?  I had been using 550, but now 
> use 553.  I
> realize that the 5xx series signifies a permanent failure, 
> and the second
> digit the mail service and the third, well, a shade of meaning.  Which
> should I be using to bounce spam based on our own access.db 
> file?  Either
> will probably do, but I'm looking for the "right" one.
> 	Second, upon issuing the 55x error, what phrase do you attach to
> it?  Does the server reply, "550 spam.com blocked"  or just 
> "550 Domain
> blocked"?  On one hand, I don't want the spammer to know why they were
> blocked, but then again, when someone gets blacklisted and I 
> need to find
> out why, the exact block message is nice to have.  What are 
> others doing in
> this arena?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Stefano
> 
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