Musings from a small IPP

We spend a lot of time trying to let legitimate mail through, and filtering problem mail into SPAM folders for our customers.  Here are a few ways you can ensure you get filtered as SPAM

• Always change the sender of each message, to each recipient, to prevent whitelisting
• Assume that the FROM line will be recognised (it will not, sender is what counts)
• Have an incorrect SPF record for where you are sending from
• Always change the sender of each message, to each recipient, to prevent whitelisting
• Make sure your customers never reply to your mail, use a “noreply” address
• Send mail to customers who report you as SPAMMING them
• Use a 3^rd party mailing list service with bought lists
• Send mail containing links to sites that are black-listed
• When doing any of the above, send lots of mail to establish a history of sending dodgy mail
• Always change the sender of each message, to each recipient, to prevent whitelisting
• Slightly less important, have a mismatch between the email sender’s domain, and the system sending it
• Carefully include keywords that trigger automatic traps e.g. “Beneficiary,” “winner.” “prescription,” etc
• Send from a misconfigured system
• Have an invalid Message-id, or none at all.
• Always change the sender of each message, to each recipient, to prevent whitelisting
• Send from a system with a dynamic IP address (home vs business broadband)
• Use words and phrases that differ greatly from the language written by the intended recipient (Bayesean check)
• And remember always change the sender of each message, to each recipient, to prevent whitelisting

After all, it’s all about tracking deliveries, not getting your message through isn’t it?