A quick tale and a question:

I have a ded server at DialtoneInternet. When I was away for the weekend a spammer setup five domains which looked legit according to my helper.

They then proceeded to knock the crap out of our bandwidth and smtp and spam, spam, spam.

Now it's bad enough getting DNSBL listings at www.openrbl.org, they will clear.

The bandwidth isn't really a problem.

The problem is that DTI wanted to charge ME 50usd per complaint - there were about 10 or so.

ONly because of proof I was away did I/we not get billed.

The question/s:
- Is it usual for a ded server owner to get financial penalties when an unknown third party abuses their server, without the server owners consent?
- It surely can't be possible to pass on the fine if they used a dodgy credit card, which they did.
- Is it reasonable to ask for Paypal only and a 500usd security deposit against future ****wits?
- Is it normal for a host to act in this manner?

Regards

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with your provider. When you have a dedicated server, it is your responsibility to secure it, and whatever happens on that box you are ultimately responsibl for, If it caused problems on their network and people complained, the provider has to make all the people who complain happy. This in most cases means giving them some sort of monetary compensation. Therefore, they are going to want to make back at least a little of that money.

That being said, I think that you should be gratefuk that they did not charge you because you were away. I doubt that most providers would do the same.

-Dan

If it caused problems on their network and people complained, the provider has to make all the people who complain happy. This in most cases means giving them some sort of monetary compensation.
That's interesting. I never thought of Dialtone compensating anyone who complained. I typically am getting 100+ spam mails a day in my inbox. How do I collect for these?

I am referring to network problems not complaints about receiving spam. If people got paid to complain about the spam they received, we'd all be millionaires.

-Dan