I used to have my two domains, linuxmafia.com and unixmercenary.net,
registered through an individual in Texas, found via my wife Deirdre,
who was a Tucows OpenSRS reseller. Years down the line, he wound down
that operation: I think I was among the final customers, probably kept
because I wasn't "high maintenance" unlike many domain owners.
Where I moved was to small, clueful registrar IWantMyName.com of
Wellington, NZ. And all was good for a long time. There was one brief
bobble when GDPR kicked in: Suddenly and without explanation, let alone
my request, all my domain contacts toggled to "private registration". I
opened a IWantMyName.com support ticket, like "not what I want, please
revert."
Their clued and cheerful tech quickly figured out what happened:
IWantMyName.com is a reseller of domain services provided by very large,
German registrar 1API Gmbh (with presumably IWantMyName.com doing its
work via 1API's, er, API. And, like many large registrars, 1API Gmbh
had reacted to the rollout of GDPR by doing a "Fine, we'll just set
everyone for maximum privacy as a new default, so we cannot be sued for
privacy violation."
IWantMyName.com staff intervened with the larger company, and it got
fixed. More years passed. In August 2019, the unwelcome news arrived
that the Wellington, NZ shop was now a wholly owned subsidiary of
CentralNic Group PLC of London.[1] Drat. You go to the effort of
researching a small clueful business, run by people you have confidence
in, and they get bought out by some distant idiots. More years pass.
A few days ago, I check, and linuxmafia.com and unixmercenary.net are
_again_ set to "private registration". Grr. I do due-diligence by
visiting the IWantMyName.com customer WebUI: For each domain, there is
a toggle to _enable_ (but not one to disable) "private registration".
Fine, I've tried to fix it myself, and no. Will require registrar
action.
New support ticket. I thank them for prior help, detail 1API Gmbh
having pushed out this unrequested change once _before_, suggest this
might have been a similar corporate spasm, give the context that I'm
one of those rare people who insist on _public_ WHOIS, and that I've
had these domains for decades.
Support guy sends back a one-liner saying:
<---begin--->
Shaswat, 2 Feb 2023, 00:23 UTC
Hello there,
Verisign domains do not show registrant details, regardless of privacy setting.
This is registry policy over which we do not have any influence so there isn't much we can do from our end.
Shaswat
<---end--->
I draft a response, saying "That's odd, I find nobody online discussing
Verisign ever adopting such a policy, which is suspicious. Nor can I
find any declaration of such a policy. Can you please point me to one?
Also, when did this occur? Please give me details so I know how to
escalate my complaint at Verisign." (Verisign is indeed the operator of
the .com and .net TLDs, since their acquisition of NSI.)
But, before sending, I smell a rat. Wait, does Shaswat's statement
actually check out? If it's true, then _no_ .com or .net domains have
public WHOIS, any more.
I check:
o apple.com
o verisign.net
Both have public WHOIS. I discard my pending draft response to Shaswat,
and politely point out that his assertion is erroneous, citing the above
two domains as counter-examples. I reiterate my request, say that his
first response is in no way acceptable, and advise checking with his
team if he doesn't know how to proceed. I also say he should use
standard WHOIS client queried to verify what I said about apple.com and
verisign.net -- and paste the contact results for his convenience.
A few minutes later, Shaswat responds:
<---begin--->
Shaswat, 2 Feb 2023, 04:11 UTC
I passed your email to our developers and I am getting the same response.
Here is a third party source that displays registrant info :- +https://www.whois.com/
Despite the privacy being turned off for the domains: linuxmafia.com and +unixmercenary.net, it says redacted.
That's because whois pulls data from the registry database and verisign keeps it
private.
Shaswat
<---end--->
Notice the implication that his _entire_ notion of how to view WHOIS
is to use an outsourced third-party _Web_ front-end to WHOIS. I.e., I
suspect he is completely unaware of /usr/bin/whois and /usr/bin/jwhois .
One gets the picture of some underpaid technophone, who knows nothing
about the registrar business and uses only a Web browser, never command
lines.
I reply back, reiterating that irrespective of what "our developers"
say, that is obviously incorrect, and that he can see that for himself
using any WHOIS tool including the third-party https://www.whois.com/
CGI. I also add that I'd advise him becoming fluent with /usr/bin/whois
and /usr/bin/jwhois, as that is a necessary skill for his present job.
That was about 14 hours ago. I'm still waiting to hear... something.
So, I get the picture that CentralNic Group PLC probably laid off
all the competent support staff and moved IWantMyName.com support
into its existing ultra-low-paid helpdesk staff operation who only
copy-paste stock answers and are incompetent to do technical work.
I'm going to give it a day, and maybe try to escalate to the CentralNic
Group PLC / IWantMyName.com _sales_ staff, pointing out that they're
about to lose a customer.
My expection is: They're going to lose a customer. I suspect they've
been Computer Associated.
( http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/lexicon.html#computer-associates )
(1) Michael, I notice you have berleleylug.com (with public WHOIS) at
registrar gandi.net . Still happy with them?
(2) Anyone here have a .net domain (with public WHOIS) at gandi.net
or any other reputable registrar?
[1] https://iwantmyname.com/abouthttps://iwantmyname.com/blog/iwantmyname-becomes-part-of-centralnic-group-p…
1. Disabling of subscriptions on account of rejections that in turn
were on account of DNSBL listings. I have taken no action on these.
mike1martin654(a)hotmail.com
host hotmail-com.olc.protection.outlook.com [104.47.56.161]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<mike1martin654(a)hotmail.com>:
550 5.5.0 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable
(S2017062302). [CO1NAM11FT067.eop-nam11.prod.protection.outlook.com]
marie_burnett(a)hotmail.com
host hotmail-com.olc.protection.outlook.com [104.47.56.161]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<marie_burnett(a)hotmail.com>:
550 5.5.0 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable
(S2017062302).
here(a)infochambers.com
host infochambers.com [66.45.232.109]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<here(a)infochambers.com>:
550-"JunkMail rejected - balug.org (balug-sf-lug-v2.balug.org)
550 [96.86.170.229]:47905 is in an RBL:
http://www.barracudanetworks.com/reputation/?pr=1&ip=96.86.170.229"
david.thomas(a)novell.com
host smtp.ext.microfocus.com [129.84.2.139]
SMTP error from remote mail server after initial connection:
554 IP address 96.86.170.229 rejected [IP reputation fail]
drfreud(a)tangerinelab.com
host tangerinelab-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.73.138]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<drfreud(a)tangerinelab.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. AS(201806281)
[MW2NAM04FT006.eop-NAM04.prod.protection.outlook.com]
mark(a)eversmall.com
host mx10.mailspamprotection.com [185.56.84.30]
SMTP error from remote mail server after end of data:
550 The sending IP (96.86.170.229) is listed on https://spamrl.com/.
Please resolve this and retry.
daevid(a)daevid.com
host daevid.com [216.160.113.113]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<daevid(a)daevid.com>:
554 5.7.1 Service unavailable; Client host [96.86.170.229] blocked
using b.barracudacentral.org;
http://www.barracudanetworks.com/reputation/?pr=1&ip=96.86.170.229
tj(a)tjack.com
host mail.tjack.com [109.237.208.19]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<tj(a)tjack.com>:
550 Email blocked by b.barracudacentral.org (127.0.0.2)
seanl(a)cnet.com
host cnet-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.57.110]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<seanl(a)cnet.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.
AS(201806281)[SN1NAM02FT0063.eop-nam02.prod.protection.outlook.com]
luke(a)teyssier.com
host mail.teyssier.com [64.26.60.153]
SMTP error from remote mail server after end of data:
550 The sending IP (96.86.170.229) is listed on https://spamrl.com/.
Please resolve this and retry.
nikki(a)mindsource.com
host mindsource-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.55.138]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<nikki(a)mindsource.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. AS(201806281)
[BN8NAM12FT112.eop-nam12.prod.protection.outlook.com]
david(a)servepath.com
host servepath-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.55.138]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<david(a)servepath.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. AS(201806281)
[BN8NAM12FT033.eop-nam12.prod.protection.outlook.com]
smclean(a)baynetworks.com
host baynetworks-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.56.138]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<smclean(a)baynetworks.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. AS(201806281)
[CO1NAM11FT055.eop-nam11.prod.protection.outlook.com]
juergen.schmerder(a)sap.com
host sap-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.30.74]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<juergen.schmerder(a)sap.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied. AS(201806281)
[VI1EUR03FT011.eop-EUR03.prod.protection.outlook.com]
mcneil(a)suse.com
host suse-com.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.51.138]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<mcneil(a)suse.com>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.
AS(201806281)[DBAEUR03FT023.eop-EUR03.prod.protection.outlook.com]
<mgallagher(a)techtarget.com>
(reason: 550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.
AS(201806281)[BN7NAM10FT014.eop-nam10.prod.protection.outlook.com])
danmcc(a)metro.net
host metro-net.mail.protection.outlook.com [104.47.64.110]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<danmcc(a)metro.net>:
550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.
AS(201806281)[BL0GCC02FT043.eop-gcc02.prod.protection.outlook.com]
hso(a)nosneros.net
host mail.tuplemovers.net [64.13.153.240]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<hso(a)nosneros.net>:
554 5.7.1 Service unavailable; Client host [96.86.170.229] blocked
using b.barracudacentral.org;
http://www.barracudanetworks.com/reputation/?pr=1&ip=96.86.170.229
mray01(a)ccsf.cc.ca.us
host ns7.ccsf.cc.ca.us [147.144.1.250]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<mray01(a)ccsf.cc.ca.us>:
553 5.3.0 <mray01(a)ccsf.cc.ca.us>... Rejected by Barracuda Reputation
Block List - see http://www.barracudacentral.org/rbl/listing-methodology
2. Delivery failed because user/mailbox no longer exists. I have
removed these
subscribers from balug-announce, manually.
kno(a)jtan.com
host mail-filter-1.jtan.com [184.105.182.180]
SMTP error from remote mail server after pipelined end of data:
550-REJECTED - RCPT-VERIFY-FAIL kno(a)jtan.com 550 5.0.0
<kno(a)jtan.com>... no
550 such user
dostrow(a)gentoo.org
host mail.gentoo.org [2001:470:ea4a:1:5054:ff:fec7:86e4]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<dostrow(a)gentoo.org>:
550 5.1.1 <dostrow(a)gentoo.org>: Recipient address rejected:
User unknown in local recipient table
j0shw(a)comcast.net
host mx2h1.comcast.net [2001:558:fd02:243f::3]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<j0shw(a)comcast.net>:
550 5.1.1 Not our Customer
dmz(a)vortex4.net
host fionna.vortex4.net [207.135.99.73]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<dmz(a)vortex4.net>:
550 5.1.1 <dmz(a)vortex4.net>: Recipient address rejected:
User unknown in local recipient table
dhull(a)digitaloverload.net
host mail.digitaloverload.net [50.87.146.15]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<dhull(a)digitaloverload.net>:
550 No Such User Here
hoggwf(a)earthlink.net
host mx03.oxsus-vadesecure.net [51.81.232.218]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<hoggwf(a)earthlink.net>:
550 5.5.1 Recipient rejected - ELNK001_403
-https://postmaster-earthlink.vadesecure.com/inbound_error_codes/#_403
mrcaseyb(a)speakeasy.net
host mx.speakeasy.net [64.29.145.41]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<mrcaseyb(a)speakeasy.net>:
550 5.1.1 <mrcaseyb(a)speakeasy.net>... User unknown
sking(a)riverdeep.net
host us-smtp-inbound-2.mimecast.com [205.139.110.221]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<sking(a)riverdeep.net>:
550 Invalid Recipient -
https://community.mimecast.com/docs/DOC-1369#550[BpKaIpOwNX6j-hHKdCHGlQ.us1…
awhite(a)wikimedia.org
host mx1001.wikimedia.org [2620:0:861:3:208:80:154:76]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<awhite(a)wikimedia.org>:
550-Callout verification failed:
550-550-5.2.1 The email account that you tried to reach is disabled.
Learn more
550-at
550-550 5.2.1 https://support.google.com/mail/?p=DisabledUser
550 fo6-20020ad45f06000000b004bb984ae488si6560292qvb.537 - gsmtp
jbuck(a)welsh-buck.org
Unrouteable address
snatcher(a)arlington.com
https://products.office.com/en-us/CMSImages/Office365Logo_Orange.png?versio…]
Your message to snatcher(a)arlington.com couldn't be delivered.
snatcher wasn't found at arlington.com.
balug-announce-bounc. . . Office 365 snatcher
Action Required Recipient
Unknown To address
darynr(a)facsware.com
Your message to darynr(a)facsware.com couldn't be delivered.
darynr wasn't found at facsware.com.
balug-announce-bounc. . . Office 365 darynr
Action Required Recipient
Unknown To address
thompsonc(a)stancounty.com
Your message to thompsonc(a)stancounty.com couldn't be delivered.
thompsonc wasn't found at stancounty.com.
balug-announce-bounc. . . Office 365 thompsonc
Action Required Recipient
Unknown To address
rajesh.akula(a)unisys.com
rajesh.akula(a)unisys.com<mailto:rajesh.akula@unisys.com>
The email address you entered couldn't be found. Please check the
recipient's
+email address and try to resend the message. If the problem continues,
please
+contact your helpdesk.
jstafford(a)techtarget.com
[https://products.office.com/en-us/CMSImages/Office365Logo_Orange.png?versio…
+d100a9-0a8b-8e6a-88e1-ef488fee0470]
Your message to jstafford(a)techtarget.com couldn't be delivered.
jstafford wasn't found at techtarget.com.
balug-announce-bounc. . . Office 365 jstafford
Action Required Recipient
Unknown To address
jstone(a)sfsu.edu
[https://products.office.com/en-us/CMSImages/Office365Logo_Orange.png?versio…
+d100a9-0a8b-8e6a-88e1-ef488fee0470]
Your message to jstone(a)sfsu.edu couldn't be delivered.
jstone wasn't found at sfsu.edu.
balug-announce-bounc. . . Office 365 jstone
Action Required Recipient
Unknown To address
3. What the heck? I'm not sure I understand.
my_balug(a)spamcrazy.org
host mail.spamcrazy.org [34.210.110.113]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT
TO:<my_balug(a)spamcrazy.org>:
550-DNSBL listed at sbl.spamhaus.org
550 Error: open resolver;
https://www.spamhaus.org/returnc/pub/44.242.180.255
I really don't get it. I don't find a DNSBL listing for either the IPV4
or IPV6 or the FQDN, and the "Error: open resolver" doesn't make a lot
of sense. On general suspicion, I've removed my_balug(a)spamcrazy.org
from the subscriber roster.