The big problem with open / free black lists is that they are not kept current. Once an IP address is added to them they never remove it. Now it can be argued that this is a good thing, but in actuality is not. With more and more ISP's serving dynamic IP addresses, you can get an IP address that is black listed, and you are not the one responsible for creating the problem. Additionally, as ISP's come and go, or are bought up by bigger companies, the IP assigned IP address block also changes hands. Again, the black lists do not get updated with this information. Black lists could have been a good thing if the world did not introduce dynamic IP addressing. Static IP addresses would have made it a lot easier to implement black lists. That being said, regardless of how IP addresses are assigned, I think that black list providers also need to be responsible and keep their information current. My personal thinking is that the entire black list implementation needs to be rethought. Perhaps, instead of using the IP address as the entry into the black list, they need to start looking at using the domain name instead. At least this approach would account for dynamic IP addressing and for the ownership of IP address blocks changing hands. I speak from personal experience, having being assigned a dynamic IP address from my ISP that is on a black list. What is frustrating about this is that the ISP will not provide a different IP address. Steve Dawes Phone: (403) 268-5527 Email: SDawes at calgary.ca NOTICE:: This communication is intended ONLY for the use of the person or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient named above or a person responsible for delivering messages or communications to the intended recipient, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any use, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of the information contained in it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and then destroy or delete this communication, or return it to us by mail if requested by us. The City of Calgary thanks you for your attention and cooperation.
