Unacceptable: Forced to use WBS's SMTP server

[ic]

One thing I am too doff to figure out from this email - will this prevent me from using the GMail smtp server...? I don't think it will, but then I'm a bit lost with what WBS' intentions are as of Monday when Satan's decree comes into effect...

 

[w1z4rd]

Luckily I only use Iburst as my connection, so relaying through wbs`s server is the quickest solution. However, I can understand arthur`s concern`s though.

Hows this for an idea?, prehaps make it a defaul that you have to relay thought their server, however, WBS should allow users to contact them, to unlock this feature. The unlocked accounts can be monitored for abuse or something.

 

[nocilah]

well guys this is finally it, i wasnt going to change ISP's because I cam to the conclusion that they ALL SUCK here in SA, so I couldnt be bothered. But this SMTP and No Bulk Email nonsense is going to affect my business. So I will now have to look elsewhere.

But while we are on the topic, i think iBurst is showing us exactly how Hitler and the Gestapo would have run an ISP!

And now the big question, what is the next option? DSL? Sencrap??

dsl

 

[seburn]

NO!!!!!!!!!
OK so I pay for external email servers So if WBS disallows them:
When i get disconnected I will need to change the smtp setting on all pc to use other smtp and when I am connected I will do the oposite.

Considering that I don't work there everyday and no-one else will know how to do this, we're ******

Anyone know how to route from smtp.ispx.co.za:25 to smtp.wbs.co.za:25 in Ipcop?

 

[Kei]

Has anyone seen the changes implemented... I wanna know because I want to know if I can drive my UTD up their asses tomorrow!

 

[slimothy]

NO!!!!!!!!!
OK so I pay for external email servers So if WBS disallows them:
When i get disconnected I will need to change the smtp setting on all pc to use other smtp and when I am connected I will do the oposite.

Considering that I don't work there everyday and no-one else will know how to do this, we're ******

Anyone know how to route from smtp.ispx.co.za:25 to smtp.wbs.co.za:25 in Ipcop?

dude, Im just doing my rounds on the iBurst forum and i only just stumbled on your post, I don't think you read the email correctly. Lets say you own domain.com and you rent space on some server and they give you your smtp server and pop 3 and all the frills and you like to use your own smtp server for smtp, that is OK, thats allowed, that will NOT be blocked. However what will be blocked as I understand it is setting up a smtp server on your own computer and sending mail with it.

This is standard practise all over the world, because ever since spam, smtp servers have been mostly password protected so users started saying well why not set up a smtp server on my own pc to send spam and thats why when you connect to efnet or various places/services they run your IP against a spam list and you get banned.

of course some people need to run a smtp server on localhost for a valid reason so maybe wbs should allow them to apply for some sort of special access or even *gulp* pay for it, but for joe average sending email using hotmail servers or gmail or his own smtp server on a server somewhere, he won't be blocked from doing so

 

[Kei]

Their e-mail is unclear.

What you refer to has been standard practice all over the world for years, they introduced it here in the late 1990's already I think.

WBS state in their e-mail explicitly that you cannot SMTP unless you use their server! To me that means if I send e-mail to my server at smtp.abc.com they will block it. At my previous place of employ this is how it was done!

 

[slimothy]

I think its the wording to be honest, they just get some idiot to typr those emails up it seems, well it says from June 27th (today) and I can still use my server's smtp so I'm hoping they weren't actually that stupid that they would block all access to any smtp because that doesn't affect spammers, that affects everyone.

I wonder how they enforce this though, because if they block traffic from port 25 on our computers then you can change the port to send your spam, if they use packet inspection then it slows down legitimit traffic and if they monitor traffic's content they must be violating some privacy law.

 

[Kei]

Yep, you can change your port and bypass port 25 on those software apps. I also, likewise, wonder what other method they use.

Well, if they can extort money out of all of us and get away with the crime of no service whatsoever I am sure that getting away with violating your privacy is a walk in the park for WBS

 

[Arthur]

So far I can use my external off-site SMTP servers for mail.

Either they didn't implement the change, or it was never going to affect us anyway.

If the former, then bravo. Just cut out the spammers and abusers.

If the latter, then the email was badly vetted (ie it's a mangement problem). Hopefull someone learned a lesson in how not to communicate with users, ie school fees are paid, now do it better next time.

 

[slimothy]

yeah but it does affect you if you run a smtp server on your machine and there are perfectly valid reasons to do so, so while i'm glad wbs took a step in the right direction i'd prefer it if they at least showed a little flexability and enabled it for users on request and then they could monitor a small list of users

 

[evilsee]

im blocked

Hi

I cant use my off-site email server anymore, guess they have implemented there filter/packet scanning tool.

The problem now is that smtp.wbs.co.za is completely useless, keeps commming up and down. They can go shove there smtp server you know where for all I care. If there going to force us to use theres , then it should work or else they must change it back.

evilsee.

 

[slimothy]

thats freaky i just sent a test mail to myself through my server and it worked fine

 

[jmn]

Couldn't send mail from own server (deferred continously, connection dropped), had to define SMART_HOST in sendmail.mc...
So I'll just do two setups with scripts to switch between connections. Painin the butt

 

[SupaMonkey]

Completely Unacceptable

Ok, I don't know about anyone else - but this is actually completely unacceptable. I too have off-site SMTP servers and I would much prefer using them than the unreliable WBS one.

Its pathetic - my SMTP servers require authentication to send mail - if WBS wants to eliminate SPAM etc, can't they just do the same on their SMTP servers?
At the end of the day, if every SMTP server requires authentication for mail to be sent, then there would be "no" problem.

 

[Chronos]

Clarity

From what I just understood Shaun say on the phone, they are forcing everyone to use smtp.wbs.co.za as the smtp relay to outside hosts.

In my case I then need to configure postfix to relay mail to smtp.wbs.co.za instead of directly to other servers.

He said incoming smtp connections to me to deliver my mail (ETRN from backup mail servers) should work fine.

So all in all i cant see this affecting me too much. As long as smtp.wbs.co.za remains reliable.

 

[regardtv]

SMTP blocking (outgoing) has just come into effect

 

[evilsee]

From what I just understood Shaun say on the phone, they are forcing everyone to use smtp.wbs.co.za as the smtp relay to outside hosts.

In my case I then need to configure postfix to relay mail to smtp.wbs.co.za instead of directly to other servers.

He said incoming smtp connections to me to deliver my mail (ETRN from backup mail servers) should work fine.

So all in all i cant see this affecting me too much. As long as smtp.wbs.co.za remains reliable.

thats whay Im saying, on friday, my mail worked 100% with my server, then I change to smtp.wbs and know nothing works 100%, sometimes my mails go through,

e

 

[Kei]

I will check this out tonight when I get home. *** help WBS if I cannot send mail and that is my final word. Because if it doesn't work. I am getting rid of iBurst. No company is going to prevent me from accessing a legitimate domain- who the f**k do they think they are!

 

[SupaMonkey]

Ive heard alot of people complaining about the unreliability of smtp.wbs.co.za. When I first signed up, I tried smtp.wbs.co.za (seeing as it is a local server). Straight away I was getting problems of mail not being delivered - etc. So that was the last time I used that.
Now that they are forcing everyone to use smtp.wbs.co.za - I can imagine how much worse its gotten! I mean - if it was bad before everyone HAD to use it, I can just imagine the load on it now.
I wouldn't be suprised if they have an ancient pc taking care of the mail thinking it will be sufficient.

Luckily I can use SSL with my SMTP server to bypass the port 25 restriction - I just hate to have to go to all my accounts and setup this stupid setting.