Another approach which I think I've seen elsewhere, is to set up a proxy 
email address on the directory for each person which automatically 
redirects any enquiries to that person's 'real' email address. The real 
address is not shown, but is held by the directory website in the 
background. Thus, if addresses start to get spammed, or users simply 
want to leave the list and not receive any enquiries, then the directory 
website would simply break the link between the proxy and real addresses.

Department of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Rd,
London,
E1 4NS
Tel: 020 7882 5428

Pennington, Andy wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I've seen a number of websites that have 'contact us' pages that don't contain email addresses on screen or in the source code. I'm not sure how this works, if the pages can be configured to allow direct emailing to a number of different people or how much work is involved, but the web developers should know. A link to an example is below:
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/2224v2
> 
> All the best, Andy.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Health Impact Assessment for the United Kingdom and Ireland [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Birley
> Sent: 29 January 2008 09:04
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [Fwd: Fw: HIA Gateway people directory]
> 
> One technical answer is to show all email addresses as    xxxx AT yyyy
> then it doesn't look like an email to search software (because there is
> no @).
> Another spam guard is to create a proxy address for use only on this
> database. If it starts to attract spam you just delete it and  create a
> new proxy.
> 
> I think a public and members only domain is a good idea with
> registration.
> 
> Martin Birley 
> http://www.birleyhia.co.uk/ 
> Mobile +44 (0) 7725040361
> Landline +44 (0) 208 546 0823
> Mail: 44 Woodbines Av, Kingston, Surrey, KT1 2AY, UK 
> Skype(mic/cam) martinbir 
> Conference call access number +44(0)7953 953 953
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Health Impact Assessment for the United Kingdom and Ireland
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of HIA gateway
> Sent: 29 January 2008 08:50
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [Fwd: Fw: HIA Gateway people directory]
> 
> 
> Alex
> 
> You raise a very real problem. I think the answer is that if an email
> address is in the public domain then there is no way of stopping
> spammers or others using it. We have to think carefully about the
> relative merits of making email addresses freely available with its
> acknowledged drawbacks or in someway limiting access which would
> certainly stop some people from contacting us whom we would wish to
> contact us. You will note that I was careful to get people to consent to
> having their details placed on the gateway. 
> 
> It would be possible to delete emails (and/or telephone numbers /
> addresses) from the public domain. We could have partial protection by
> requiring people to register if they wished to see these features. So
> far about 50 people have said they wish to have their name with details
> included on the HIA gateway.
> 
> I guess we need a debate among those involved as to how much they want
> to make public and what restrictions they wish to put on information
> about themselves. I am therefor copying this correspondence to JISC mail
> so that others can express a view. All opinions welcome please.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> John    
> 
> 
> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential. If you
> are not the intended recipient, any reading, printing, storage,
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> is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended
> recipient, please notify the sender immediately by using the reply
> function and then permanently delete what you have received.
> 
> The information contained in this e-mail may be subject to public
> disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The
> confidentiality of this e-mail and your reply cannot be
> guaranteed,unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: alex scott-samuel [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: 28 January 2008 17:29
> To: John Kemm
> Subject: [Fwd: Fw: HIA Gateway people directory]
> 
> John, how do you prevent spammers from accessing a public darabase
> containing e-mail addresses?
> 
> best,  alex
> 
> -------------------------------------------
> *From:* Health Impact Assessment for the United Kingdom and Ireland on
> behalf of HIA gateway[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> *Sent:* Monday, January 21, 2008 1:11:11 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject:* HIA Gateway people directory
> *Auto forwarded by a Rule*
> 
> 
> Dear All
> 
> HIA gateway will be reappearing very shortly. We are now starting to
> build the directory of people interested in HIA. In order to get it
> started I wanted to collect some names. Please see the attached form and
> use it if you want to add your name to the directory now. If you dont
> want to do it now there will be many further opportunities to do so once
> the gateway is properly open.
> 
> Look forward to hearing from you
> 
> John
> 
> 
> This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential. If you
> are not the intended recipient, any reading, printing, storage,
> disclosure, copying or any other action taken in respect of this e-mail
> is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended
> recipient, please notify the sender immediately by using the reply
> function and then permanently delete what you have received.
> 
> The information contained in this e-mail may be subject to public
> disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The
> confidentiality of this e-mail and your reply cannot be
> guaranteed,unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure.