Re: Why spam is a problem.

[Keith Moore <moore at cs.utk.edu>]

> > Caitlin Bestler <caitlinb at rp.asomi.net> writes:
> > > My initial minimalist approach is to propose a standard
> > > whereby the source of an email can be authenticated,
> > > allowing receivers and relayers the option of rejecting or
> > > simply segregating email without authenticated sources.
> > 
> > Thus leading to masses of authenticated spam? Anyone can generate an
> > RSA key. There are enough primes out there that you can generate one
> > for each piece of spam and still never run out. :)
> 
> Authentication is not the same as encryption .... Authenticated just means
> dialup/cable/dsl users have to use their upstream ISP 

no, that's not what authentication means.  nor is this a reasonable 
constraint to impose.

Keith