Fake Bounces

Some spam filters are starting to use a “fake bounce” feature. The concept of sending fake bounces can be very seductive to those who don't understand the consequences. Firing off a fake bounce gives a temporary feeling of power to the spammed, but it is futile and dangerous.

True bounce messages are generated by a mail server when there is an error with the email it is sending, based upon a reported error by the recipient mail server, such as the mailbox not existing. Fake bounces seek to mimic that, and so fool a spammer into removing a live email address. Sending such fake bounces is not a good idea.

• Fake Bounces Considered Harmful
• Products that Send Fake Bounces

Related

• “From” Address Forgeries
• Challenge/Response Considered Harmful
• Dealing with Spambots
  

Fake Bounces Considered Harmful

Since the “from” address is easily forged, if you send fake bounces you are likely to contribute to a mailbombing against an innocent victim. Spammers don't pay any attention to bounces, real or not, and spammers don't remove addresses from their mailing lists. Fake bounces may also forge the sender as the ISP's postmaster, which is likely to be forbidden by your ISP. Bouncing is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

• Fake Bounce FAQs
• Spam Filter Vendors on Fake Bounces

Fake Bounce FAQs

On Bouncing Spam - www.macintouch.com/spambounce.html
Bouncing messages do no good - pm-lib.sourceforge.net/README.html#2
Don't use MailWasher's Bounce Facility - www.city-fan.org/mailwasher-bounce-bad.html
2 bounce or not 2 bounce? - www.georgedillon.com/web/2_bounce_or_not_2_bounce.shtml

Spam Filter Vendors on Fake Bounces

Can Spamnix "bounce" spam messages back to the sender? - www.spamnix.com/faq.html#J5Gw
How do I bounce my message back to Junk mail senders? - www.mozilla.org/start/1.5/extra/using-junk-control.html#bounce
Why not 'bounce' spam instead of 'eating' it? - bbs.spamgourmet.com/viewtopic.php?t=280

Products that Send Fake Bounces

Users of these products should make themselves aware of how to turn off fake bounces. If the whole point of the product is to send fake bounces, there will be no link to advice - don't use these products at all. This list doesn't include anti-virus products that send a notification to the “sender”.