All abuse.net users must register before using the mail forwarding service. Registration is free, unless you try to abuse abuse.net itself, as described below, but mandatory for all mail forwarder users. (You don't have to register to use the WHOIS server or the web lookup, nor to send in domain contact information.)

We require registration to ensure that messages sent through abuse.net come from real e-mail addresses so system managers can send questions and replies, and that users accept our terms of service. Mail from forged or ``munged'' addresses is logged and discarded.

How do I register for the abuse.net mail forwarder ?

Send a message to new@abuse.net. (Contents and subject don't matter. The first message from any unregistered address is also treated as a request to register.) You'll receive in response a welcome message containing the terms of service shown below. If you accept them, reply to that message and put I accept in the first line of your response to indicate your assent. Once your acceptance is received, you're registered permanently, unless we change the terms of service in which case you'll have to re-register. If you don't accept the terms, don't reply and you'll never hear from us again.

The abuse.net mail forwarder terms of service

Anyone who registers for the abuse.net mail forwarder, as described above, must accept these terms of service.

1. You agree to use abuse.net only A) to report abusive behavior by Internet users, or B) to communicate with abuse.net management with questions, comments, or suggestions about the operation of abuse.net.
2. You agree not to use abuse.net for any other purpose. In particular, you agree not to send any commercial solicitations, chain letters, or other mail sent to multiple recipients ("spam"), nor to send messages intended to harass or annoy any person ("mail bombing"). If you send any messages in violation of this section, you agree to pay I.E.C.C., the operator of abuse.net, a processing fee of US$100 per message plus any attorneys' fees and collection costs. You agree that this processing fee is reasonable in view of the work involved and resources expended in the handling of such messages.
3. You agree that although abuse.net attempts to deliver all validly addressed messages to an appropriate administrator, it makes no promises about whether, when, or to whom your messages will be delivered. You agree that abuse.net may keep copies of any messages received from you.
4. You agree that these terms are binding on you from the time you send a message accepting them. You agree that if you subsequently decide not to accept these terms, you will send no more messages to abuse.net.

How private is abuse.net ?

Not particularly. At the moment, we keep copies of messages that aren't forwarded to other systems (the first message from each user, and the registration response, and all messages from unregistered addresses), but we reserve the right to keep copies of any messages we need to. Like all mail systems, we log the "to" and "from" addresses of all messages. Once your message is sent off to the administrator of the domain you're complaining about, it's up to him, her, or it, what to do with it.

A note about your system's spam filters

It is up to you to set up your msil system it so that it works with abuse.net. In particular, if you use abuse.net, you may receive automated messages from postmaster@abuse.net, new@abuse.net, register@abuse.net, and any address to which you send an abuse report, so you must adjust your mail system to accept them.

If we receive bounces or "prove you're human" challenges to abuse.net addresses, we will cancel your registration. If your registration is cancelled and you're sure you've fixed your mail system, you're welcome to reregister, but if you do and we receive further challenges, we'll treat them as annoying messages as described in section 2 of the abuse.net, terms of service above.