Just thinking that I could do a better job managing a server than some, well at least having worked for large corporates I at least know how to run formal operational policies, rigid change management procedures and good customer communication. Along with a healthy dose of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" So my thought is I could offer a better service at the same price that some out there seem to be doing. The gotcha is spam. (and no money - but what the hey..)

How can you effectively ensure no one is spamming? All I can think of is some script that is wrapped around the system mailers that watches the process that mail is being sent from and compares it to some rules, terminiating the account if a rule is violated.

Does something exist?

well, I think the best way is constant monitoring.... and of course, checking abuse@yourdomain.com account to take quick action:)

ps. checking mailque from time to time also helps ;) also sendmail (or any other SMTP) server processes etcetc

Some simple anti-fraud measures should suffice (along with the abuse@yourdomain.com stuff). (i.e. traceroute the IP the orders are coming from, credit card verification, etc.) :D

Or require that your SMTP server requires the person to log in every 5 minutes or something before they can send an email.

I wondeer if any of the open source projects cover this.

I can think of a perfect way, but it would have to be included in the linux kernel.

That is to modify the raw mail code it logs everything to a file, then a system level process that watches the file and uses a rule set to determine if unwanted activty is taking place and if so kill processes and block accounts.

rules being the time between cuccessive mailings per account, unusual appearance of headers addresses.

I tried to stop himailer.com from spamming to sell their spamming software. Nothing happened. It is not so easy to stop them it seems.

>think of is some script that is wrapped around the system >mailers that watches the process that mail is being sent from >and compares it to some rules, terminiating the account if a rule >is violated.

There are several open source packages that monitors inbound mail at sourceforge.net. Search for Bayesian or Spam.

The packages probably coud be modified to monitor outboud messages.

But a lot of spammers run their own SMTP server so
that it will not solve all your problems.