AntiSpam solutions

[RobC]

Ok, one of the problems I've found in my job is the spam we get on our system. Not necessarily the volume, more the content (almost exclusively 'Adult' in nature). Every time we enquire about this, we keep getting told that they can't do anything about it and just to block the sender's address and delete the e-mail.

 

Well, this would be fine if spam always came from constant addresses, but as we all know every address is different so this seems like a rather non-solution.

 

So: What does everyone else use for antispam, how easy is it to integrate into Exchange 2003, cost, etc?

 

At least this way I could put some proper suggestions forward.

 

(And for the newer people on the board, it's a fully managed service so I can't do anything to the servers myself )

[ChrisH]

I think the best thing would be a linux box with Spam assasin on. Other solutions would probably be very costly.

[Dos_Box]

Outlook 2003 has spam filters built in. What mail client are you using?

[RobC]

DB, we're still stuck on Outlook 2002. They won't fork out the cash to upgrade to Office 2003 (although I've used one of my personal licenses on my own machine for it!).

 

The long and the short seems to be that they know fine well that something should be done, but either one side doesn't want to pay for it, or the other side doesn't want to take a knock in profits for it.

 

Personally, I would have thought that it was a necessity considering the risk of these sort of e-mails reaching the kids. And to be honest, with over 1000 pupils in our school the chances of none of the kids having received anything like this are very low!

[Dos_Box]

You could knock up your own Spam Assasin box for next to nothing.

[Geoff]

Yep. Linux front end mailer for the Exchange box running Spam Assassin would clear this up. You can also do address verification and antivirus scanning too.

[tarquel]

[isp] <> [spam assassin box] <> [Exch box]

 

so all mail goes thru it (suppose you could say the assassin is a proxy (sounds like a song lol)] and everyone just uses the exch box as normal - but with no spam lol

 

There are some firewall's that you can get spam/email filtering modules/plugins for too btw.

 

If you have Exchange 2003, doesn't each CAL give you a outlook 2003 license (if you dont use OWA that is)? For stationary users (if this is what you were thinking) like admin users, it might be the best way

 

Cheers

Nath

[Dos_Box]

Not sure about the CAL issue, but we have SA set up for all schools in Lancashire to opt into filtering (announcement soon boys and girls!). Any mail labled as spam will be forwarded to an account called [email protected].

[Geoff]

It certainly was the case that Exchange CALs = Outlook license. But I've not used Exchange since v5.5 so my information might be out of date.

 

Whats wrong with using OWA? Its pretty decent in Exchange 2k3.

[RobC]

Well thanks for the tips guys, but I severly doubt Fujitsu will go down the SA route. I think the only way would be some sort of spam filter for Exchange itself.

 

I'm gonna look into whether Exchange 2k3 CAL = Outlook 2k3 license, but as that would potentially involve an updated Ghost build on over 1000 PCs (every school in Moray) I can't see them doing that. I really wonder why they don't use GP installs!

 

Basically, if it can't be integrated with the current server software, I think their gonna try & shaft us. Another reason why I would love to be able to detatch the school from this contract, although that will NEVER happen!

[Geoff]

Intergrated Antispam for Exchange is massively expensive. Typically thousands and thousands of pounds.

[Dos_Box]

If Fujitsu are running your IT services then it is THEIR responsability to implement such aa anti-spam solution should there be demand for it. Have you contacted them?

[Ric_]

Exchange 2003 CALs DO allow you to use Outlook 2003. They also allow the use of Entourage if Macs are your prefered client.

[ICTNUT]

@ RobC:

 

Have you setup RBL's and SBLs in Ex 2003?

 

This would lighten some of the SPAM issues you have.

 

Look Here --> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823866

[Geoff]

You need to be real careful about blacklists. Some of them suck.

[RobC]

@ICTNUT

 

Thanks for that. I never realised that Exchange could handle RBLs out of the box. I'll forward that on to the relevant people, and await the standard response of "It's too expensive (and yes, they will try that with free stuff!)" or "It can't be done on this system."

 

God I love Fujitsu, honest!

[spc-rocket]

Hi,

 

How about using the IMF (intelligent message filter) that you can use on exchange 2003? i'm not too sure if this is sold seperately or is available for download.

 

Ashok.

[spc-rocket]

IMF link --> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C1B08F7B-8CAF-4147-B074-8C9C8F277071&displaylang=en

 

 

Filter update to IMF --> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C1EA8CF1-48C9-4E43-A4EB-82D9A83FD4A7&displaylang=en

 

Free download from microsoft.

 

Ashok.

[RobC]

Thanks ashok - I'll pass that onto Fujitsu. By the looks of it, this is the Exchange implementation of Outlook's existing Just E-mail filters, which have always worked pretty reliably for me.

[Peter]

For a secure Linux gateway box to scan SMTP mail for SPAM and virus check out

http://www.ijs.si/software/amavisd/

 

regards

Peter

[RobC]

Ok, it's time to resurrect a dead thread..

 

I'm still trying to get a solution to the wonders of spam on our network, and I know now that other schools in the area are having the same battle with our managed service provider. Here are the criteria for our antispam solution:

 

1. It has to be free

2. It has to integrate into our existing Exchange 2003 setup (which makes SP2 a good candidate for the solution).

3. It definitely has to be free!

4. We can't use a linux box.

 

So... I am currently researching the Intelligent Message Filter for Exchange 2k3 and would like to know if anyone is running it, and how successful it actually is. I know it's based on the same technology as the spam filter in Outlook 2k3 which I have had quite a bit of success with, but how well does that technology scale up to mailserver level? And how easy is it to administer?

[Alex]

assp

 

http://assp.sourceforge.net/

 

run it on a win box with perl (installer does it all)

 

Easy Windows installer:

 

http://www.andersonit.com/assp.html

 

Very nice package. I have 2, one as primary one as secondary MX, tertiary at isp.

[Ric_]

@RobC: I am running IMF (dead easy to set up!) and I've noticed that a couple of people have had stuff sent into a Junk folder. I've also noticed that we don't get much dross so...

[RobC]

Excellent. I was rather hoping someone would give a good response about IMF.

 

Rob.

[Ric_]

@RobC: My response wasn't exactly good It does just work though from what I can tell - check http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Microsoft-Exchange-Intelligent-Message-Filter.html