'Spam Sees Westnet Blocked by BigPond'
In follow-up to the article published on ZDNet Australia, 29 July 2005, titled 'Spam Sees Westnet Blocked by BigPond', Westnet wish to release further information regarding the spam incident.
The article stated that a significant amount of spam was released from Westnet's mail servers, which BigPond subsequently blocked from its own mail server earlier this week.
Westnet wish to clarify that the spam was initiated by an external party that exploited certain vulnerabilities in a customer's website that it hosted. This website supported its own email service, which the spammer abused to send a mass of unsolicited email.
"We acknowledge that BigPond's active blocking of this particular spam message was the most agreeable course of action", says Westnet Managing Director, Peter Brown.
Westnet also confirms that the website in question was shut down immediately after it became aware of the release of the spam.
"We view all spam as a serious crime and have very strict anti-spam policies. We support the cause of anti-spam programs and have implemented our own methods to reduce spam on the Internet, including rate limiting which monitors and limits mass emailing", says Mr Brown.
Westnet have put measures in place to ensure that there is no further exploitation of its customers' websites. It also offers its customers a spam filtering service to protect them from receiving a mass of unsolicited junk email.
About Westnet
Westnet provides dialup, broadband, web hosting and domain registration and long distance telephone services. It has an extensive network of over 1800 customer service agents in NSW, Vic, QLD, WA, SA and NT.
Contact:
Alex Chagoubatov
Marketing Manager
Westnet
Phone: (08) 6263 6300
Mobile: 0427 087 167
Fax (08): 6263 6366
Email:
Web: www.westnet.com.au