Electronic mailing list

A mailing list (English mailing list ) offers a closed group of people the ability to exchange messages in letter form, so networking with electronic means. This message exchange is public within the group. Particularly common are mailing lists on the Internet, where they are implemented by means of e-mail. Mailing lists are historically the original form of newsgroups, and Internet forums, for certain purposes but still the drug of choice.

Mailing lists are used for multidirectional communication between more equal participants. The difference newsletters and circulars is that the latter rather represent a unidirectional transfer of messages from a single source. Gradual deviations from these principles exist, so that the transitions between mailing list and newsletter are fluid.

Mailing list by e -mail

The mailing list is a list of e -mail addresses, which itself has an email address. In this way each member of the mailing list may send a message to all other members, without knowing their e- mail addresses. For this purpose, directs the Mail Transfer Agent an in-depth to the address of the mailing list e- mail to all members of the mailing list. Depending on the settings of the mailing list it does immediately after the transmission, after approval by a moderator or regular, such as daily, compilation ( Digest ).

Mailing lists are an Internet standard, their automated use, for example, defined in RFC 821 by 1982. Mail Transfer Agents are initiated by the EXPN command to implement them known mailing lists addresses in the Addresses.

Logging In and Out

Typically, a user must log on to a mailing list to receive or to be allowed to send to the subscriber list by itself, the news spread there messages. For the application itself ( engl. subscribe) very different methods are used - from an entry by hand into formless application to fully automated process with confirmed opt - in. Whether a user can log in at all, is determined by the administrator of the list by the server configuration.

How to Log is also available when you log off (English unsubscribe ) a variety of methods. Frequently the subscriber of a mailing list automatically gets a message, which describes how to log out of the application. Some lists are writing this note automatically in the header of the e -mail or in any post that is distributed over the list. In most cases, the subscriber has to send a logout command to a special address an e -mail, in some cases it can also log off via a web interface. In no way should write with a request to unsubscribe to the list itself a subscriber emails, as this other subscribers being harassed unnecessarily. Unfortunately, there are also lists from which the Subscriber 's address is very difficult again or can not be removed.

Read and write permissions

Whether a registered user to read, write, or both, may be determined by the administrator of the list by the server configuration. Thus there are, for example, lists that everyone can read (via a web interface ), but may in the logged-on user only write. Some mailing lists are served by a moderator who reviewed all or arriving from certain participants mails before it releases the forwarding.

Web interface and Archives

In contrast to e -mail distribution list, a mailing list has its own e- mail inbox, where all through the mailing list sent messages are stored. As a rule, can be accessed through a web interface to this e -mail archive. In this way, a member of the mailing list also reading emails that were sent via the mailing list before he signed up for the mailing list.

Abuse and protective measures

Mailing lists are partially misused by malicious third-party e- mail address of the recipient - subscribe to several lists, so that it henceforth regularly unwanted email received from the list (using the List- linking) - without the consent of the recipient.

The problem can be simply avoided by the operator from the list by requiring a confirmed opt -in process for registration. The recipient will receive only one email per list, on which he would have to respond in order to be registered in future distribution list of what he can refrain easy. Involuntarily registered receiver so do not need to log off.

Considerably more complex for the receiver it when the list operator waived an opt -in. In this case, the receiver must itself unsubscribe from all lists or let unsubscribe from the administrators of the list, which is not or only with very great effort is possible with some dubious operators. In both cases, this represents an exceedingly troublesome and time-consuming business - especially as the risk that the address of the involuntary recipient is re-entered in these or other e -mail distribution. In extreme cases, largely unusable in this way an e -mail address because of undesirably high mail volume.

Mailing lists can also be misused by duly registered participants by sending e- mails with purely advertising nature (UCE ), the netiquette verstoßendem or topical foreign content. The administrator may admonish such sender and exclude in case of recurrence or her status first - if the mailing software offers this option - individually to " moderated " switch, so check their emails before forwarding. ( More general moderation can be found in the article Internet forum. ) Some lists only allow switching of all participants in this mode. However, this causes labor and time for the administrator ( which then usually " packets " takes place and the liveliness of discussions affected ) delays in delivery, and not least among the participants of the idea of ​​censorship can occur.

Comparison with forums and Usenet news

Mailing lists are similar to forums or Usenet. The advantage over a web forum is that the posts can be written and read offline. An advantage over the Usenet is that a list server ( the program that redistributes the message ) is set up much easier than a newsgroup on Usenet. Most Internet users have as part of their Web browser, a program for reading news ( news readers ), this possibility does not know and can not use it well. In addition, they would have to have a Usenet Access ( at universities, where almost automatically, but hardly ever ) or a surcharge subscribe.

On Usenet, as well as on mailing lists certain rules for formatting messages have naturalized. A summary of rules, compliance with which contribute to the readability and comprehensibility of the " conversation history " (thread) is referred to as netiquette. A common violation of these Netiquette is the excess in Answers Using full citations or the so-called thread - hijacking, in which the sender starts a new thread in response within a running thread, rather than starting with a new mail a new thread.

Programs

Frequently used programs are Listserv mailing list, Lyris List Manager, Majordomo, Mailman, ezmlm / idx, Sympa and ecartis.

Other programs and mailing list provider:

• Dada mail
• Dgroups
• Email marketing software
• Google Groups
• Group Server
• Mailing list
• MSN Groups
• Netiquette
• Online consultation
• Phplist
• Regroup
• SmartList
• Squeeze page
• Yahoo! Groups

Encrypted mailing lists

Meanwhile, there are several approaches for encryption of mailing lists. However, these are only supported by a few mailing list providers. An example of functional encryption is Sympa, which can be used for this purpose together with S / MIME certificates.