Stop Spam

eb
Junior Member

USA
141 Posts
Posted - 09/25/2002 : 17:46:12
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Can anyone recommend a good email &/or web filter? The President keeps getting porn in her inbox, & she doesn't like it.

Platform:
Exchange 2000 (one on the "inside", one in a DMZ)

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Eric

E B. R
Sr. Network Engineer
PP Systems

adegutis
Administrator

USA
985 Posts
Posted - 09/25/2002 : 22:23:32
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Here are some options:

http://www.msexchange.org/software/software.asp?cat=AntiSpam

TrendMicro's ScanMail® for Microsoft® Exchange 2000
http://www.trendmicro.com/products/smex2000/features.asp
- requires content filter add-on: http://www.trendmicro.com/products/isem/

I'm sure that McAfee and Symantec have similar offerings.

Here's the reality:
We use TrendMicro's eManager on our POP3 server (not using Exchange). While TrendMicro lets you download updated Spam list filters you need to tweak and add and tweak and add and tweak and add and tweak (you get the point) to the filters manually. It's become a part-time job for me. Like I wasn't already short on availble work hours.

Until we reach a point where all e-mails are digitally signed or otherwise traceable back to the originator we are doomed.

Edited by - adegutis on 09/25/2002 22:24:15

swanlzs
Starting Member

USA
16 Posts
Posted - 09/30/2002 : 12:47:44
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I have been told (but have not used it), that Symantec's version 3.0 Exchange Antivirus Option has a filtering option with it also.

Since we use Exchange 2.6 Antivirus Option on our Exchange2K server, will look into this as the Spam is getting a bit ridiculous.

Lee Ann Swanson

ebrux
Junior Member

USA
141 Posts
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 00:58:04
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Well, I installed XWall this past Saturday. It appears to have all the "bells & whistles" as the big boys, but it's only $300. The other's were between 2 & 3k. 30 day trial. Pretty easy setup. Michael Kocum is EXTREMELY helpful.

Also found an inexpensive RBL (Relay Black List) that works w/ XWall (& other's). $150/yr w/ the first 6 months free.

One MINOR problem w/ XWall: It is searching the Subj & the body of the email for certain, shall we say "inappropriate" words (we have been getting a lot of porn Spam). These email are kicked over to the Administrator (me).

This was working just fine until today. An email came in from someone's wife. She said she was "horny" and wanted him to come home.

Needless to say, XWall picked up the email and kicked it to me. NOW WHAT? Do I forward the email to him? Or do I just forget that I ever saw it.

I decided to forward it to him. He thought it was hilarious (as did the rest of the IS Dept).

Oh, the fun we have.

EBR
Sr. Network Engineer
P P Systems

GV
Starting Member

India
32 Posts
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 03:59:17
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If you can spend a little money - really only a little
enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?ProductID=66&PID=13179079&EID=0

If not, You can start with message filtering in MS Exchange Admin / Configuration / Connections / IMC / Connections tab and filter by domain there.

GV

ebrux
Junior Member

USA
141 Posts
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 18:55:40
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XWall update: Entered the RBL's into the system. Now XWall looks up the sender's ip address in a database of known servers that allow relaying.

WOW. It has already blocked 450 Spam emails with subjects like:

Mortgage Rates are Dropping-Are you Benefiting?
We Found Your Money, Oprah Winfrey show
Get Your Own Personal LIE Detector!
HGH Liquid! Lose Weight...Gain Muscle...Affordable Youth!

Unbelievable. 450 Spams in 4 days. Total waste of time & storage space (not to mention traffic on the T1).

What happens if it blocks legitimate email? Well, our travel agent's email was blocked because their server was on the RBL list. I just added her to the "white list" (excluded list), and all is well. Very easy.

If you want to block 95% of the crap email that your server is getting, I recommend this software. The price is right ($324 w/ tax) per server. No user limit. AND, it can sit on the same server as your email program (Exchange in my case).

EBR
Sr. Network Engineer
PP Systems

nickw
Moderator

Ireland
504 Posts
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 19:12:33
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quote:
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This was working just fine until today. An email came in from someone's wife. She said she was "horny" and wanted him to come home.

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Ha Ha Ha Heeeeee!

Now that story has just made my day!

N W
IT Consultant
NT&E

"I was eating a big heaping bowl of 'Frosties'
this morning when it finally struck me...

maybe you're not supposed to pour whiskey on
your cereal afterall..."

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Edited by - nickw on 10/15/2002 19:18:26

adegutis
Administrator

USA
985 Posts
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 21:01:03
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quote:
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Originally posted by ebrux

Unbelievable. 450 Spams in 4 days. Total waste of time & storage space (not to mention traffic on the T1).
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