MCI Boots Send-Safe Spam Software

In apparent response to public pressure, MCI has ceased hosting for spam software provider Send-Safe.

The Send-Safe software itself utilizes a network of hacked computers to send unwanted email messages for spammers. The hacking of the computers themselves is clearly illegal. The legality of software that helps locate and exploit them is questionable at best. Users of the Send-Safe software would appear to be in direct violation of the law.

Spam sent via Send-Safe is harder to track back to the sender. As a result it's more likely to make it past many internet spam blocker technologies. Blacklists are rendered less effective, since hacked computers are spread across thousands of different networks.

MCI initially claimed that its policies didn't allow for booting a client due to the content of their hosting. Many anti-spam groups criticized them for this policy.

Client based programs to filter email are largely effective against messages sent by compromised systems. This website offers a free trial download of a client-side spam stopper. SpamButcher's trial version lasts for 21-days before needing registration. The demo version of the anti-spam product is fully functional.

Back