[OPLINTECH] Public Wireless Access to SMTP Port 25

[Ed Liddle]

Our ISP blocks port 25. Just out of curiosity was the spam sending a
result of a virus or malware on the patrons laptop? I have had that
happen in the past to a staff machine. It got infected and was sending
out gobs of spam even with port 25 blocked. It was sending it out on
different port numbers with a destination port number of 25 to different
e-mail servers. 

-Ed Liddle 

 
On Tue, 2009-02-17 at 13:31 -0500, Rich Simmerman wrote:
> Due to a recent incident of a public wireless user sending spam, we
> are looking at what ports and applications we can comfortably make
> available for use on our public wireless network and which one may
> need to be blocked. Specific to the spam problem, we are curious as to
> what other libraries are doing about public access to SMTP port 25. Do
> you allow it or block it? We are implementing a public logon page that
> requires the user to “accept” our public acceptable use  policy but of
> course that’s just a check box and doesn’t stop the user from mischief
> after “accepting” the rules.
> 
>  
> 
> I would think that with web access to Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook Web
> Access, IMAP, and POP3 that the client mail issue would be
> sufficiently covered for the serious business user who needs to access
> mail while doing some work at the library. Blocking port 25 would only
> stop a patron from running a full-fledged mail server over our network
> and I can’t see anyone wanting to do that on a wireless laptop. That’s
> just my own view however and I could well be overlooking valid reasons
> for leaving port 25 open. The question is then, what are other
> libraries doing? How are you controlling public wireless access and
> what application ports do you leave open? Is this sort of thing
> causing anyone any grief? I would very much appreciate suggestions,
> recommendations, horror stories, or success stories.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> My Thanks,
> 
>  
> 
> Richard S. Simmerman
> 
> Network Operations Manager
> 
> Dayton Metro Library
> 
> (937) 496-8555
> 
> 
-- 
-Ed Liddle
 
Technology Assistant

Marysville Public library
231 S. Plum Street,
Marysville, OH  43040

      * Phone: 937-642-1876 ext.45
      * Fax: 937-642-3457