Testing an email without sending a test email message to the inbox?

[superslurpee]

Hi,

I was just wondering if there was a way to test if an email address is working without sending a test email that the person would get. I'd like to see if a client's email is working without sending them a real email.

Is there a way to do this in DOS, online, etc.?

Thanks

http://www.a1websitetemplates.com

http://www.residualincomefinder.com

 

[Gavona]

I hope not. Spammers would love that sort of a tool.

Gavin

 

[goombawaho]

Yeah - an smtp server actually has to try to connect to a target host and then send before it can receive a response such as "recipient unknown" or that a server at the domain is not responding, etc.

 

[superslurpee]

You're right. Spammers would love that scenario. Thanks!

http://www.a1websitetemplates.com

http://www.residualincomefinder.com

 

[donb01]

If you want to find out if the client's Mail Server is online you can telnet to port 110 of their mail server and see if you get a greeting.

This won't do squat to tell you if their mailbox exists, whether it's over it's quota, etc, but at least you can tell the server is online.

Just a thought.

 

[JockMullin]

This stuff can be easily enough done, but I really don't think we should be posting these details here.

Unexpected bounces are often the first indication a desktop has been compromised; let's not make it any easier for the sleazeballs to clean their lists.

I'm not saying superslurpee or anyone else is a spammer, but this is a public place, and really the best way to test an email address IS to send a test email. Just because an email server accepts an address doesn't mean the client will get the traffic.

Jock

 

[superslurpee]

Yup, I totally agree. I never thought about it from a spammer point of view. I just wanted to see if there was another way to test a client's email address when they tell me their email isn't working. It's a shame people look to exploit things like this. Hackers and spammers really piss me off and I wish they'd get a life already.

http://www.a1websitetemplates.com

http://www.residualincomefinder.com