I'm looking for comments on whether this is generally seen as a

of time (ie - will the next virus or worm gleam your SMTP username and

positive change or a waste password from

Outlook Express and use it to replicate/SPAM)?

We are planning on moving the same way. Without a doubt, a new virus or worm will emerge that will steal the SMTP-AUTH from the config file (or more likely, ALL the new variants will steal the SMTP-AUTH info). But, with SMTP-AUTH you can limit the number of connections and outbound emails, which is the real reason we are doing it. Also since some of the new variants are smart enough to bundle in a SMTP server, or use the local service in XP, we have taken to blocking emails from clearly marked residential high speed subnets (reverse DNS) in other providers space. Maybe its time there is some proposed rfc like device for this? Regards, Mark -- Mark Segal Director, Network Planning FCI Broadband Tel: 905-284-4070 Fax: 416-987-4701 http://www.fcibroadband.com <http://www.fcibroadband.com/> Futureway Communications Inc. is now FCI Broadband