Spam registrars named and shamed

Paulbc · 02-05-2009, 01:06 PM

The vast majority of spam (83 per cent) is linked to sites established through ten domain name registrars, according to a new study. An analysis of junk mail messages by anti-spam firm Knujon ("no junk" spelled backwards) found that while there are 900 accredited domain name registrars, spammers register their spamvertised domains though only a tiny sample. Knujon's study names and shames the registrars who are contributing (unwittingly or not) to the junk mail problem.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/industry-news/556969-spam-registrars-named-and-shamed.html

1. XinNet Cyber Information Company Limited
2. eNom
3. Network Solutions
4. Register.com
5. Planet Online
6. Regtime Ltd.
7. OnlineNIC Inc.
8. Spot Domain LLC
9. Wild West Domains
10. Hichina Web Solutions

Full article:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02...am_registrars/

exsedo · 02-11-2009, 04:50 AM

"Money is the root of all evil" A very famous quote.

It is good that these registrars are named and shamed, but are they pressuring the right people here ? What about Hosting services ? Anyone can buy a domain name from a registrar which can be used for good or bad purposes. Surely it is the hosting companies' responsibility to monitor usage.
There are all kinds of cloaking services run by hosting companies where the ID of the domain owner is kept secret. One famous example is the infamous appraisal scammer who has been plaguing domainers for years. The hosting company must know who he is but continues to protect him. Google still indexes his websites as well as many other illicit sites. So to blame everything on registrars is not fair IMO. The real problem lies elseware.

testingyou · 02-11-2009, 06:42 AM

It's interesting that Moniker is not in the list. I like Moniker.

AdoptableDomains · 02-11-2009, 06:43 AM

The company that wrote the article doesn't seem to know much about the internet. A registrar by itself has little power to control spam from a domain name itself, or even detect it. The hosting company controls the MX records of a domain if hosting is even used. I don't know of any ICANN rule that allows a registrar to take any action against a spammer on the basis of a name registration alone. Their trademark power is more than their power to stop spam. However, since many registrars also offer hosting there might be some correlation.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=556969

Ultimately the most responsible should be:
1. The ISP or owner of the IP number spam was generated from. (they provided the bandwidth and/or IP number behind the domain name)
2. The hosting service. (some spammers don't even use hosting, but have their own computers connected directly to an ISP).
3. The DNS host if separate from the registrar or web host. (the MX record controls email, regardless of website hosting)
4. The registrar, registry, and/or ICANN if they have any legal power over domain use in spamming. I think the only power they would have would be contractually through the TOS, and not power given by ICANN or government. Some spammers/scammers don't use a domain at all, but spam from just an IP address since it's harder for a layperson to figure out who they are.

If I report spam abuse, I go directly to the ISP, or whoever is hosting their mail or providing their IP number and bandwidth. The registrar would be the last resort. The last couple spammers I reported were using gmail.com. Complaining to their registrar Markmonitor that spam is originating from Google gmail.com would be fruitless.

MicroGuy · 02-11-2009, 06:45 AM

Very interesting read OP. Thanks in posting.

exsedo · 02-11-2009, 07:44 AM

Thanks for the post Paulbc, and very educational response from Adoptabledomains.

02-05-2009, 01:06 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Paulbc NamePros Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 56	Spam registrars named and shamed The vast majority of spam (83 per cent) is linked to sites established through ten domain name registrars, according to a new study. An analysis of junk mail messages by anti-spam firm Knujon ("no junk" spelled backwards) found that while there are 900 accredited domain name registrars, spammers register their spamvertised domains though only a tiny sample. Knujon's study names and shames the registrars who are contributing (unwittingly or not) to the junk mail problem. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/industry-news/556969-spam-registrars-named-and-shamed.html 1. XinNet Cyber Information Company Limited 2. eNom 3. Network Solutions 4. Register.com 5. Planet Online 6. Regtime Ltd. 7. OnlineNIC Inc. 8. Spot Domain LLC 9. Wild West Domains 10. Hichina Web Solutions Full article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02...am_registrars/

02-11-2009, 04:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
exsedo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,668	"Money is the root of all evil" A very famous quote. It is good that these registrars are named and shamed, but are they pressuring the right people here ? What about Hosting services ? Anyone can buy a domain name from a registrar which can be used for good or bad purposes. Surely it is the hosting companies' responsibility to monitor usage. There are all kinds of cloaking services run by hosting companies where the ID of the domain owner is kept secret. One famous example is the infamous appraisal scammer who has been plaguing domainers for years. The hosting company must know who he is but continues to protect him. Google still indexes his websites as well as many other illicit sites. So to blame everything on registrars is not fair IMO. The real problem lies elseware. __________________ Unenforceable Loan ?-Desktop 3D Printer- Top 20 Coupons

02-11-2009, 06:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
testingyou Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Copenhagen - Denmark Posts: 1,789	It's interesting that Moniker is not in the list. I like Moniker. __________________ World Food Programme - No Children Should Go To Bed Hungry. It's simple, it's not rocket science, not political, not cultural, not religion, not complicated... It's this simple!.

02-11-2009, 06:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
AdoptableDomains Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 4,015	The company that wrote the article doesn't seem to know much about the internet. A registrar by itself has little power to control spam from a domain name itself, or even detect it. The hosting company controls the MX records of a domain if hosting is even used. I don't know of any ICANN rule that allows a registrar to take any action against a spammer on the basis of a name registration alone. Their trademark power is more than their power to stop spam. However, since many registrars also offer hosting there might be some correlation. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=556969 Ultimately the most responsible should be: 1. The ISP or owner of the IP number spam was generated from. (they provided the bandwidth and/or IP number behind the domain name) 2. The hosting service. (some spammers don't even use hosting, but have their own computers connected directly to an ISP). 3. The DNS host if separate from the registrar or web host. (the MX record controls email, regardless of website hosting) 4. The registrar, registry, and/or ICANN if they have any legal power over domain use in spamming. I think the only power they would have would be contractually through the TOS, and not power given by ICANN or government. Some spammers/scammers don't use a domain at all, but spam from just an IP address since it's harder for a layperson to figure out who they are. If I report spam abuse, I go directly to the ISP, or whoever is hosting their mail or providing their IP number and bandwidth. The registrar would be the last resort. The last couple spammers I reported were using gmail.com. Complaining to their registrar Markmonitor that spam is originating from Google gmail.com would be fruitless. __________________ AdoptableDomains.com ~~~~~Finding Good Homes for Good Names~~~~~ FuelPrices.mobi - Fish.us - ManhattanNewYork.net - Salesmen.info - SoundSystems.org Dickering.com - JobPlacement.biz - LotteryTickets.ws - Deleted.cc - Names.im - MP3.hn

02-11-2009, 06:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
MicroGuy Miembro Especial Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Fourth Density Posts: 6,831	Very interesting read OP. Thanks in posting. __________________ ...... Astral Projectors Do It In A Vortex!

02-11-2009, 07:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
exsedo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,668	Thanks for the post Paulbc, and very educational response from Adoptabledomains. __________________ Unenforceable Loan ?-Desktop 3D Printer- Top 20 Coupons

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