Spam Blocker Has Opposite Effect
Source: Wired.com
Users of SpamNet, a popular peer-to-peer unsolicited e-mail filtering service, had grown accustomed to virtually junk-free inboxes.
So when spam suddenly started pouring in last week, SpamNet users weren't very happy.
Some even began to suspect that SpamNet was nothing more than a scam intended to gather e-mail addresses that could then be sold to spammers.
But SpamNet hasn't brokered a deal with the e-mail devil. And the service, which is still in beta-testing, doesn't appear to be permanently broken.
According to CEO Karl Jacob, the problems began when Cloudmark -- the company that developed SpamNet -- made some changes to its backend systems. The intended upgrades brought down the show.
More problems ensued. Jacob said the SpamNet system had just staggered back up to its feet late last week when UUNet's meltdown clobbered it, along with a significant portion of the Internet.
"Many people perceived that the issues with SpamNet had continued, when in fact it was caused by connectivity issues between UUNet customers as well as connectivity issues between UUNet and SpamNet's servers," Jacob said.
UUNet is up and running again, and Jacob said SpamNet's internal problems have been fixed.
But some users are still reporting problems with the service.
