Forwarded From: phreak moi <hackereliteat_private> http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/15221.html Whois Deadspammer.com? by James Glave 4:40 p.m. 24.Sep.98.PDT An Internet marketing firm deep-sixed plans to sell the contents of its Internet domain-name database after furious netizens crippled the company's network and threatened more serious action. "People from all over the world threatened that they would kill us, sue us, or do worse," said John DeUlloa, marketing consultant for Domains on Disc. "It is amazing how the Internet, if it really wanted to, could prevent a product or a service from either going online or staying online." The ruckus began earlier this week when reports emerged on mailing lists and in the media that Domains on Disk was selling the entire contents of the "whois" database. Maintained by the Internet Network Information Center, the database contains contact information -- such as names, phone numbers, and emails -- for millions of Internet domain-name owners. The information is public but is intended for use by network administrators. That changed when a spam suggesting that the database could be used by direct marketers hit mailboxes across the Net earlier this week. "You may now email offers for your products/services to 100,000's of prospects for pennies... GUERRILLA MARKETING AT ITS FINEST!" read the message. One network administrator said she "freaked out" when she saw the message, fearing that she would start to receive unsolicited commercial email at her work account. "The whois database is not for direct marketing," said Andrea Di Lecce, a Canadian network manager working for a large Internet access company. "Its purpose is to offer contacts for a domain." Domains on Disk did not send the spam, which originated in the San Diego area, said DeUlloa, "Anyone can do that." The product was never intended for use as a mass email list by spammers, he added. "Ultimately, it was done for marketing," said DeUlloa, who explained that its intended use was for demographic research for direct mail campaigns. A message on the company's Web site signaled the end of the episode on Tuesday: "Due to the overwhelming amount of e-mail that we have received, Domains on Disc has decided to indefinitely suspend the sale of this product." The company had expected to sell 10,000 copies of Domains on Disc for US$249 each, said DeUlloa. "This thing would have done very, very well. But you can't put a price tag on someone's life, or well being." Di Lecce had a different perspective. "The lesson is simple: The Internet is a somewhat free medium, but that does not mean that you can go ahead and do whatever you want." -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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