[CQ-Contest] Unauthorized Posts on DX Cluster are NOT KY1V

Tue Apr 26 15:22:24 PDT 2011

Rudy,

No offense, but we already have wide adoption. The objective of this topic is to stop abuse.

Verifying an email address will NOT stop abuse. Getting a new email address takes only a few minutes. Basically, an abuser can simply sign up for a new email address at any free email provider on the Internet, then register with the DX Cluster and begin abusing. So we shut him down, then he does it again. If he uses a dynamic IP address, this could go on indefinitely.

Tying registration to a valid license could eliminate this problem. 99% of us would register once and be done with it, never abusing the system. Those that want to wreak havoc on the rest of us would be chasing registrations. After enough attempts, and phony license copies, he would be isolated and eventually discovered, hopefully prosecuted for using falsified documentation and illicit use of a secured system, which many states and countries have enacted computer crime laws against such behavior.

Associating a registration to a valid license would make such abuses much more difficult to accomplish for the 1% that can't help but to disrupt the community.

David ~ KY1V

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rudy Bakalov
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 8:42 AM
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com; David Kopacz
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Unauthorized Posts on DX Cluster are NOT KY1V

Since the objective is wide adoption then the simpler the user verification=
 process the better.=A0 One solution is to simply verify the email of the p=
erson signing up for the cluster by asking a confirmation URL, PIN code, et=
c. just like the registration process required to subscribe to this reflect=
or.

Rudy N2WQ
--- On Mon, 4/25/11, David Kopacz <david.kopacz at aspwebhosting.com> wrote:

From: David Kopacz <david.kopacz at aspwebhosting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Unauthorized Posts on DX Cluster are NOT KY1V
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 6:03 PM

If the guys that write the DX Cluster software are willing to modify it to include registration and authentication, I will volunteer to host the database that supports it free of charge. I am sure there are a few others out there that would be willing to host a replicated database in other regions around the world so we have a system that is secure, scalable and available 24/7/365.

Individual cluster operators would be held accountable for regulating the abuses through their system, including web access, and isolated if they don't take action against those abusing through their node(s).

It would take some collaboration to design the system. The most difficult part would be verification of users. With registration, authentications and verification (license), abuses could be isolated by IP addresses to narrow down and eventually catch/eliminate the few bad apples.

Registration could be as simple as creating a username and password attached to your call sign. Photocopies of each amateur's license could be uploaded to the server for verification purposes. The system could start on the honor system so as not to burden anyone person or group with the verification process and leave it to the database administrators/hosts/leagues/clubs/etc to isolate and disable access to abusive users.

It's an idea, but I think without the software developers of clusters getting on board first, it's a dead idea.

In the mean time, know that I don't participate in cluster use unless I am in a contest. I'm old school, I like to tune the dial.

David ~ KY1V

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Chandler
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 6:52 AM
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Unauthorized Posts on DX Cluster are NOT KY1V

I agree completely.  The whole issue of bad spots (for whatever reasons...
cheerleading, bragging, begging, or the gamut of malicious intent) degrades
what should be a prime resource for DX'ers and contesters.

Is there an alternative?  Is there some software that a DX/contest club
could fire up to create their own local secure cluster, with provisions to
only link to other, also-secure clusters?

I haven't heard of any.  Perhaps all we are waiting for is an alternative
choice?  I know nothing of how hard a job that would be, but somebody
somewhere must be itching for a project that will truly make a difference to
our community.

73 de Chuck, WS1L

On Sun, Apr 24, 2011 at 1:19 PM, Luc PY8AZT <py8azt at dxbrasil.net> wrote:

> Clap, clap, clarp.
>
> It´s time to make our network secure, DXCluster included!
> Or more and more abuses will come alive making the DXCluster less and
> less useful.
>
> 73, Luc
> __
> PW7T Team member
> WRTC.2010 Brazilian Team Leader
> PY8AZT (also PT7AG, PX8C, ZZ8Z, ZY7C)
> LABRE, ARRL, CWJF & Fortaleza DX Group Member
>
> 2011/4/24 David Kopacz <david.kopacz at aspwebhosting.com>:
> > I have received a number of recent emails regarding comments made via
> > the DX Cluster using my call sign KY1V.
> >
> > I would like to "clear the air" regarding these posts on the cluster.
> >
> > =================================================
> > THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT MINE. I DID NOT MAKE THEM.
> > =================================================
> >
> > I DO NOT post comments on the DX Cluster about people. In fact, I have
> > rarely posted to the DX Cluster. I don't even post during contests. I
> > almost exclusively use the cluster to receive spots while contesting.
> >
> snip
> >
> > Until such time as the Amateur Radio community decides that they will no
> > longer tolerate such abuse and refuse to participate in using an
> > unsecured system that allows such blatant abuses to continue, the
> > problem will likely continue endlessly.
> >
> > It doesn't have to be this way. Isn't it time for a change?
> >
> > I hope to get back into radio soon, until then, happy DX'ing and
> > contesting.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > David ~ KY1V
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>

-- 
73 de Chuck, WS1L

Oak Grove, MS - EM51
ws1l at comcast.net
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