Postage

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Revision as of 18:36, 1 December 2008 by Johnl (talk | contribs) (New page: {{ast |date=1980s |difficult=Difficult to impossible |popular=Low |effective=Unknown |where=MTA or gateway |harm=High }} Spam is possible because the costs are asymmetrical. Sending mail c...)
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Anti-spam technique: Postage
Date of first use: 1980s
Effectiveness: Unknown
Popularity: Low
Difficulty of implementation: Difficult to impossible
Where implemented: MTA or gateway
Harm: High

Spam is possible because the costs are asymmetrical. Sending mail costs much less than receiving it, so that receivers willingly subsidize legitimate senders, and unwillingly subsidize spammers. If it were possible to transfer some of the costs from receivers back to senders, that would presumably deter spammers, few of whom would be willing to pay the actual costs of their mail.