[mdlug] Sigfiles

[Robert Meier]

Gib,

> How about if we put this back into a technical discussion.

Thank you.

> 1. Are there mail clients that will allow you to send signature files
> that are customized to the recipients rules?

I doubt such exists, as such a mail client would need to parse
each signature and query each recipient.

Most clients support a means of setting a default signature and
selecting a signature when composing.

evolution and kmail:
  choose identity (from field:) and corresponding settings
    including default signature.
  choose signature from a configurable list

emacs:
  "mail-signature's value is ...
   Documentation:
   *Text inserted at end of mail buffer when a message is initialized.
   If t, it means to insert the contents of the file `mail-signature-file'.
   If a string, that string is inserted. ...
   Otherwise, it should be an expression; ..."

> 2. Is there mail services that will enforce signature rules?

Many mail services append signatures as a means of gaining advertising
revenue.  Many years ago, most mail services tried to enforce signature
rules (usually limiting length), but this only pushed spammers to
pollute content.  The resulting arms race was a
battle lost early in the history of spam.  Today, spam filters evolved
to allow more leeway after a signature marker ("e.g. --") thus
encouraging spammers not stopped to at least favor the signature.

See Emily PostNews (http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/emily-postnews/part1/)
for further netiquette.



Most mail clients allow you to filter mail (e.g. direct it to a
junk/spam/trash directory) based on configurable rules.

procmailrc(5):
  ...
  :0:
  * ^from:.*spammer\@spam.com.*
  spam.raw
  ...

kmail:
  [Message/Create filter] ...



Some mail services only handle encrypted mail, which forces a minimum
effort for each message-recipient pairing, and so favors legitimate
mail (usually sent to fewer recipients) over spam (usually seeking
minimal cost per recipient).  IMHO, the objections to encrypted mail
and attack of supporting systems, has usually been by spammers.

Hopefully helpful,
-- 
Bob


  "If you can buy chicken nuggets in packs of 6, 9, or 20,
   what is the largest number you cannot buy?
   (rot13) sbegl-guerr"
      -- unknown