Metrocast email problems - FYI

[webmaster]

The last time I checked Metrocast had one of the strangest email systems I've ever run across. They will not allow you to use any other outgoing mail server than theirs. If you bring your laptop on vacation and get connected through Metrocast at your hotel, your existing outgoing (SMTP) mail server won't work. You have to use theirs, or use web based email (like Gmail, etc.).

Then you run into the next strange thing: their outgoing mail server does not require any authentication (no username or password). As long as you are connected to their network you can use their mail server without a login. While everyone else is taking action to secure their mail servers they leave theirs wide open from within their network.

This seems crazy to me. Picture this: you take your laptop to a coffee shop or library that has free wifi through a Metrocast connection. You change your outgoing mail server to smtp.metrocast.net and crank out spam or other anonymous emails. You don't need a Metrocast account or any login if you are on their network.

There may be other ISP's doing it this way but I've never seen one. It seems like they should allow you to use your own mail servers and only allow authenticated users to use theirs.

Maybe this is how they got blacklisted.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by webmaster

The last time I checked Metrocast had one of the strangest email systems I've ever run across. They will not allow you to use any other outgoing mail server than theirs. If you bring your laptop on vacation and get connected through Metrocast at your hotel, your existing outgoing (SMTP) mail server won't work. You have to use theirs, or use web based email (like Gmail, etc.).

It's not like that anymore... I've had Metrocast for a few years, and have always run my own mail servers. I've never had a problem with outgoing mail getting snarfed by Metrocast servers in the way.

I don't use unencrypted SMTP though, so that might be part of why I don't run into issues.

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

It's not like that anymore... I've had Metrocast for a few years, and have always run my own mail servers. I've never had a problem with outgoing mail getting snarfed by Metrocast servers in the way.

I haven't tried that in a few years so I'm glad they fixed that.

However, their SMTP server still can be used without authentication. I send email alerts from the WeirsCAM's router through smtp.metrocast.com without any authentication.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by webmaster

However, their SMTP server still can be used without authentication.

That's the part that probably got them blacklisted. You almost have to go out of your way these days to setup a mail server that DOESN'T default to requiring auth.