MAPS=Mail Abuse Prevention System
RBL=Real-time Blackhole List

Both of these are "blacklists" that many mailservers use to try to prevent
spamming. What happens is some mailservers (probably some at mediacom were
like this) aren't correctly setup. If the server is an "open relay" server,
then it allows outside mailers to use the server to bounce spam off of.
Meaning that I could use Mediacom's servers to send out millions of spam
messages even though I'm not a mediacom subscriber.

What the blacklists are for are to identify these "open relay" servers. My
email server now watches for messages from any blacklisted server and
rejects them.

The fix is for Mediacom to correctly setup their mailserver to prevent this
and the resubmit the server for testing by the blacklist organization. Once
they re-test Mediacom's servers, they will remove them from the blacklist.

From the message, it sounds like Mediacom has reconfigured their server and
are waiting on the blacklists to drop their name. I'm not sure what the
comments regarding Antivirus software and firewalls are all about. Sounds
like a little CYA diversion.

Hope that helps.

Jeff


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:151Ab.236241$Dw6.824310@attbi_s02...
Many of my emails in response to those of you who have sent me pictures
for
the new Rec.Aviation website have been "bouncing back".

When it became obvious that it was NOT "everyone else's" problem, I
contacted Mediacom to inquire about the service. Here is their reply --
anyone care to translate? (What the heck is MAPS and RBL, and why is
MEDIACOM the one that is "blacklisted"?):

Dear Jay,
We have found out that Domains that use the same e-mails servers as
Mediacom, but do not use the same precautions as Mediacom, have been
identified as spammers. Because of this, all other Domains that use MAPS
and RBL to check the validity of our mailserver, have us Blacklisted.

Mediacom has been assured that our mail server will be removed from these
blacklist no later then the first of the week, however it may take up to
another 10 days for all these different domains to update their list and
allow mail to be received into their domain from mchsi.com.

It is advised for all customers to have an updated anti-virus program, and
check their system for Trojans (applet progams sending/receiving
data/e-mail; unsuspecting to user), and possibly a firewall to detect this
traffic.

Also, alot of mailservers are halting all mail to see if it is spam, a
virus, or a suspicious file; thus the delivery or rejection notice could
take up to 3 days for Domains protecting their service.

Randy Jackson

Internet Support Representative
Mediacom Online
(877) 387-8087
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"