The current na/an address workaround is okay, but I think we could do better.
Definitely agree!
Here's my scheme:
When someone wants to reply to an anonymous message or post, the remailer decrypts the address, ignores the "salt" bits, looks up the anonymous ID in its database, and sends it on to the desired recipient.
A couple disadvantages could be running out of bits for the return address,
Lemmesee... Monocase, and can't use much more than letters, digits and some special signs. Could be feasible, but we would get some rather weird addresses...
and adding more encryption work for the remailer.
This could be a problem. Anon.penet.fi is currently a feeble 25 Mhz 386, and I have already ordered the replacement, a 60 Mhz 486 to handle the load problems.
You'd definitely have to own the machine, and implement some, er, different mailing software, since you'd have to accept mail for users with any random name whatsoever.
Anon.penet.fi already does this. As long as we have something to pattern match for (to separate alt.sex.bestiality@anon.penet.fi from xy656b-akw@anon.penet.fi).
What do you all think about this for a "Mark II" anon.penet.fi?
Have to sleep on it (it's 8:30pm here in finland), but it sounds feasible to me... Julf