Exchange Server and dealing with spam.

celticfan11 · August 17th, 2005

I may have to resolve a spam problem tomorrow, with an exchange server. My boss may be sending me down to look at it, depending on how things go tomorrow. I do not know much of the details yet, but my question is, How would you guys reccommend dealing with a spam problem on a MS Exchange Server? I haven't had any experience with an exchange server, so I thought I would pick OSNN brains. I may not even go there to do this, but it has intrigued me now, and I would love to know for future reference. I am aware of the softare solutions to this, if this is the only way, what software would you guys reccomend?

celticfan11 · August 17th, 2005

hmm just got some more info on the problem. Apparently it is an INTERNAL spam mail which i think is probably from a virus. Which is easy to destroy. But i would still like to know the answers to my original questions if possible. Thanks guys

**LordOfLA** · August 17th, 2005

Most everyone I know has somekind of unix (linux/bsd/solaris) server with postfix or qmail filtering spam and viruses before forwarding the mail onto exchange.

Exchange is just too vulnerable to be plugged directly into the internet, however its awesome software so you just need a unix box screening mail infront of it.

The vulnerability is more to do with how it stores mail on disk than anything else. AV software on widows cant scan the datastore file and even specific "for exchange" apps cant protect every bit of exchange.

**madmatt** · August 17th, 2005

I have a Windows 2000 Server running eSafe (www.esafe.com). eSafe scrubs all incoming (before delivering it to Exchange) and outgoing (before sending it outbound) email.

**fitz** · August 18th, 2005

Open Relay Filter is a good plugin for dealing with spam on Exchange 2k3.. You can also try Mail Essentials from GFI.

I would agree, however, that you generally don't want to expose Exchange directly to the internet and should put in a seperate SMTP gateway server in between. Postfix would be good.. Brightmail, etc have mail appliances.. If it has to be Exchange - don't use a server that has a mail store - buy a seprate server, pick up ORF or GFI and set it up as a pure SMTP relay to your internal network.

Enjoy your spam.. have it with some green eggs.. mmmm... green eggs and spam!

digima$ter · December 28th, 2005

Get bsd for your server to filter out the crap.

August 17th, 2005	Top \| #1
celticfan11 OSNN Senior Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 744 Reputation: 340 Power: 124	Exchange Server and dealing with spam. I may have to resolve a spam problem tomorrow, with an exchange server. My boss may be sending me down to look at it, depending on how things go tomorrow. I do not know much of the details yet, but my question is, How would you guys reccommend dealing with a spam problem on a MS Exchange Server? I haven't had any experience with an exchange server, so I thought I would pick OSNN brains. I may not even go there to do this, but it has intrigued me now, and I would love to know for future reference. I am aware of the softare solutions to this, if this is the only way, what software would you guys reccomend? CPU: Intel 3.2GHz OC'd to 3.4GHz RAM: 1GB PC3200 Harddrive: .710TB combined Local and Network storage Video Card: Geforce 6800 GT 256MB RAM Motherboard: ASU P4P800 Sound: Onboard sound baby Monitor: Faithful 21 inches of PURE CRT Number of Programs Installed: 39 and growing: not counting games, (and yes i use them all)

August 17th, 2005	Top \| #2
celticfan11 OSNN Senior Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Vernon, CT Posts: 744 Reputation: 340 Power: 124	Re: Exchange Server and dealing with spam. hmm just got some more info on the problem. Apparently it is an INTERNAL spam mail which i think is probably from a virus. Which is easy to destroy. But i would still like to know the answers to my original questions if possible. Thanks guys CPU: Intel 3.2GHz OC'd to 3.4GHz RAM: 1GB PC3200 Harddrive: .710TB combined Local and Network storage Video Card: Geforce 6800 GT 256MB RAM Motherboard: ASU P4P800 Sound: Onboard sound baby Monitor: Faithful 21 inches of PURE CRT Number of Programs Installed: 39 and growing: not counting games, (and yes i use them all)

August 17th, 2005	Top \| #3
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Exchange Server and dealing with spam. Most everyone I know has somekind of unix (linux/bsd/solaris) server with postfix or qmail filtering spam and viruses before forwarding the mail onto exchange. Exchange is just too vulnerable to be plugged directly into the internet, however its awesome software so you just need a unix box screening mail infront of it. The vulnerability is more to do with how it stores mail on disk than anything else. AV software on widows cant scan the datastore file and even specific "for exchange" apps cant protect every bit of exchange. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

August 17th, 2005	Top \| #4
madmatt Bow Down to the King Joined: April 2002 Location: New York Posts: 13,312 Reputation: 4090 Power: 297	Re: Exchange Server and dealing with spam. I have a Windows 2000 Server running eSafe (www.esafe.com). eSafe scrubs all incoming (before delivering it to Exchange) and outgoing (before sending it outbound) email.

August 18th, 2005	Top \| #5
fitz *XPista7eopardix Joined: April 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 4,028 Reputation: 2947 Power: 168**	Re: Exchange Server and dealing with spam. Open Relay Filter is a good plugin for dealing with spam on Exchange 2k3.. You can also try Mail Essentials from GFI. I would agree, however, that you generally don't want to expose Exchange directly to the internet and should put in a seperate SMTP gateway server in between. Postfix would be good.. Brightmail, etc have mail appliances.. If it has to be Exchange - don't use a server that has a mail store - buy a seprate server, pick up ORF or GFI and set it up as a pure SMTP relay to your internal network. Enjoy your spam.. have it with some green eggs.. mmmm... green eggs and spam!

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December 28th, 2005	Top \| #6
digima$ter OSNN Junior Addict Joined: December 2005 Location: Cali Posts: 16 Reputation: 0 Power: 79	Re: Exchange Server and dealing with spam. Get bsd for your server to filter out the crap.

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