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Re: [LUG] spammers abusing From:

 

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:02:28 +0000
tom <tombrough@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> However one thing intrigues me ... your key is signed by many people, so
> if I retrieve all their keys from the key server then I will have all
> their email addresses. Is this not a way for spammers to build up large
> databases of email address ?

Spammers are lazy. There are far easier ways of harvesting email addresses. Plus the 
email addresses in key UID's are usually "public" anyway - used on websites, on 
mailing lists, status pages, etc.etc.

There is no sense in trying to hide from spammers. 

You do need an email address in the key if you want your key signed. Many people 
will not be able to sign a key that does not have a direct link to an email address 
because verifying the email address by encrypted email is an important component of 
tying the key to a physical person. See the keysigning guide.

-- 

Neil Williams
=============
http://www.data-freedom.org/
http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/
http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/

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