Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Dedicated Server : Spammers could get your server null route by spamming your site

[brianz]

Today I just received one Spam/Abuse ticket and one DMCA ticket from 100TB and I have 24 hours to response before my server IP get blocked. Here's what happened.

Some spammers posted advertising links on the comment section of my site. I don't really pay much attention to that site and those spams were posted years ago. Apparently the owner of the advertised site tried to contacted me to remove those back-links. But the site's email wasn't even work anymore. So they contacted the host. And I got two spamm/abuse tickets because someone was spamming my site

Here's the email

Dear Hosting,

We've been trying to contact the webmaster of *** but we never
heard from them that is why we are sending you this email.

We are currently managing Southern Cross Travel Insurance Australia and we
would like to request the removal of all backlinks of SCTI.com.au found on all
pages and websites owned by you and your company including by not limited to the
following:

****

You can validate that 303Lowe have been hired by SCTI as per the letter of
authorisation attached.

You can also validate this request by sending an email to Chantelle Tapsell,
Project & Digital Marketing Manager of Southern Cross Travel Insurance,


We hope to hear from you guys soon.

Thank you,

[SPINIKR-RO]

So they hired some "seo" spammer for backlinks and now they want to remove all the links form the internet?

Well ofc you want spam gone on your site but linking is not illegal, if you miss some its probably not a case to be null routed. Im not sure why the provider would even bother with anything other than passing that on to you. I would just respond to the providers abuse inquiry and tell them you will try to remove any 'spam' but if links were subject to being abusive then the internet would be quite different. Or just email them back and say you need an exact link to every one of the links they want gone.

[cyberhouse]

i dont think that even falls under dmca sounds like some bs to me.


im not an attorney tho

[brianz]

It was an old gallery script with a comment section and there were like a zillion spams posted on it. I just take down the gallery and didn't bother to remove the spams lol

[SPINIKR-RO]

Send them a bill for removing the links =)

[spykee]

It didn't mention anything about null route and it's very unlikely that you'll be null routed just for that issue.

[slawek22]

Send them a bill for cleaning the spam. For DMCA it's a pure BS. Backlinks can't violate any copyright law as link can't be copyrighted. I don't even know why 100TB forwarded this crap to you.

[Testtube302]

Just make sure that you do respond to the abuse request.

[Zhang]

Originally Posted by spykee

It didn't mention anything about null route and it's very unlikely that you'll be null routed just for that issue.

No it didn't but it is normal for SL/100TB to nullroute if the client does not react.

[brianz]

That was the email they sent to 100TB. In the email subject it said I have 24 hours to response or my IP will be blocked. I did responded.

[KMyers]

Hello,
There are some things that do not fall under the DMCA such as Fair Use. Using a companies name or Trademark t9 refer to a company is considered "Fair Use" and cannot be DMCA'ed. I would respond to 100TB to advise that you have researched the issue and see no actionable items.

It is much the same as if you wrote a review on your personal blog about the your experience at a McDonald's. McDonald's cannot contact you with a DMCA to remove it.

[rveram]

Remove the links, I was affected by a fake dmca notice and my site was down for 7 hours, i was null routed without a warning. I was using another hosting company though.

I'm 99% sure this is a fake dmca notice, check out my thread

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1149935

Some companies don't verify if the dmca notices are fake ones..

Good luck

[Grumps]

1. This is not a valid dmca notice or abuse or spam... The OP would be the victim, not the culprit.
2. I don't know why 100TB forwards this crap either.
3. @KMyers, you don't even need to appeal to the fair use clause. DMCA is a protection for copyright, not trademark.
4. I like the idea of sending them a bill for removing links. I think it's funny.

[programguy]

best way out is to respond. Back up all your data and contact another host immediately.
Upon any null route, move to new host and sue your old one for breach of contract if they do not refund your money and give you extra for the breach..

or just remove the links..

or respond and say it is just a link...

not many other options.

they may have just sent a standard mail to you and they get a lot...I am sure you just respond and all will be fine.

[barry[CoffeeSprout]]

Why is that whenever I'm on the fence about 100TB or Softlayer, I always see how moronic their abuse departments are and hold off?

Anyways, you don't want the links on your site. However I do believe an abuse request needs to specify precisely what needs to be removed and not some broad statement like: "request the removal of all backlinks of ***"