This isn’t a new idea: ban infected computers from the net. Some Australian ISPs have already done this with zombied computers, and the FTC has pushed for the same.

It is not a bad idea. In fact, I think it is a damn good one, no matter what Microsoft says. Put the responsibility for safe computing in the hands of the user, much like the responsibility one has when behind the wheel. If you are somehow infected through carelessness (or flat out ineptitude), you can continue your work, just within the confines of your Linksys router instead of my hard drive.

I am not going to spend a lot of time telling you about the FTC’s latest initiative, which is trying to get ISPs to stop zombied computers on their networks.

Why you ask? Am I just getting lazy?

No. Its just that every other news outlet on the planet seems to be doing it for me. Don’t believe me, then check these articles from CNET News, or The Register, or eWeek, or Slashdot.

Of course, I ignored a couple of dozen other articles on the same subject, but not before Brian McWilliams over at the Spam Kings blog noticed the same barrage of coverage, and beat me to the notice.

The sad part about this is that this whole “ISPs should kill the zombies” thing isn’t even the FTC’s idea. The Australians beat the FTC to that.

***UPDATE***

It look like the FTC is trying to lead the pack here (despite not being much of a leader). Pushing a 25 nation ISP/zombie initiative via a few press releases does not a leader make.

Aunty Spam posted this quick and dirty analysis of why spammers can’t hide behind CAN-SPAM and pursue ISPs for blocking their email: CAN-SPAM Allows ISPs to Filter Email - Reported by Aunty Spam’s Net Patrol. Nice work.

Spammers are chasing ISPs because that is where the money trail ends. If an ISP uses Linux serves, and has Sendmail/SpamAssassin running, the dirty little spam-muffin can’t really sue the software company, as that stuff is open source. As the combination takes care of clear majority of the traffic out there, spammers turn to those who installed it.

Good thing our court system has this little concept called “precedence” imbedded in its thinking. A couple of quick decisions by some standup judges will stop this whining, and shut one more door on spam.