Anti Spam Section

Welcome to the MSExchange.org anti spam section. Here you will find the latest news, white papers, and a number of essential links to help all Exchange administrators combat spam on their servers. This section also contains the exclusive MSExchange.org Server Based Anti Spam Comparison Chart, a comprehensive comparison of eight of the leading anti spam products for Exchange Server.

Choosing the right software

In the past, when spam mail was in its infancy, simply setting up certain keyword rules on your users' email client would usually do the trick to block unsolicited mail - or you just wouldn't bother since a few sporadic messages never caused too much trouble. However, now that over 75% of Internet email consists of spam, a more complete and realistic solution is required. As a network administrator, you are faced with two options; a 'Client-Based Solution' or a 'Server Based Solution'. We would strongly recommend server based software: this installs at the gateway, centralizing all spam management configuration and filtering out spam before it reaches your mail server or Exchange message store, as opposed to a client-based approach which would require constant updating of client configurations.

Click here for a list of Anti Spam software solutions.

MSExchange.org Server Based Antispam Comparison

With the multitude of antispam solutions for Exchange, choosing the one that's suited to your network's present and future needs is no simple task. That's why we have prepared this feature comparison in which eight of the leading vendors of antispam solutions have participated. By comparing the features of these solutions side by side, you should be able to get a clearer picture of which solution is the best overall and which one will provide you with the best value for money, ensuring that the solution that you eventually pursue turns out to be the right one.

Click here to check out the MSExchange.org Server Based Antispam Comparison.

The chart was last updated on May 16, 2012

Readers' Choice Award - Preferred Anti Spam Solution for Exchange Server

MSExchange.org conducts yearly polls, as part of its monthly Readers' Choice Awards, to determine which third party anti spam solution for Microsoft Exchange is preferred by visitors. GFI MailEssentials for Exchange/SMTP has been presented with the MSExchange.org Reader's Choice Award within the anti spam category for the last two years running. The Reader's Choice Award serves as a seal of approval by Exchange administrators, making it the most trustworthy endorsement of a product's quality and reliability.

Click here to see the latest Readers Choice Award - Anti Spam for Exchange Category.

Spam white papers from the WindowSecurity.com Network Security Library

• How to Block NDR Spam (By GFI Software) - Jul 02, 2008
  
  In this paper we provide a technical explanation of NDR Spam and recommend solutions that can prevent or limit exposure to this kind of unsolicited email.
• Attachment spam – the latest trend (By GFI Software) - Aug 16, 2007
  
  Spammers using common file formats as attachments for pump-and-dump scams.
• The 25 Most Common Mistakes in Email Security (By Brian Provost) - Mar 07, 2007
  
  25 of the most common and easy to fix mistakes that people make when it comes to email security.
• The Next Step in the Spam Control War: Grey Listing (Part 2) (By Evan Harris) - Aug 30, 2006
  
  Although not very recent, this is an informative paper that proposes a very effective method of enhancing the abilities of mail systems to limit the amount of spam that they receive and deliver to their users. Greylisting is being implemented more frequently these days.
• The Next Step in the Spam Control War Grey Listing (Part 1) (By Evan Harris) - Jul 26, 2006
  
  Although not very recent, this is an informative paper that proposes a very effective method of enhancing the abilities of mail systems to limit the amount of spam that they receive and deliver to their users.
• Email Armageddon (By Jeff McDermott) - Jul 05, 2006
  
  Are we losing the war against Spam?
• Experiences with Greylisting (By Dr. John R. Levine) - Apr 26, 2006
  
  Blacklisting, Whitelisting, Greylisting? This article helps define Greylisting, and takes a deeper look at the Pros and Cons of this technique of SPAM abatement.
• SPAM - The Issues, Impact and Reducing SPAM (Part 2) (By Jeff McDermott) - Mar 08, 2006
  
  This is Part 2 of an article to help improve the understanding of the impact and problems created by Spam. This section focuses primarily on things that can be done to help reduce the impact of Spam for consumers, ISP's, and corporations. There is no 100% with Spam reduction, but things can be done to improve the current status and condition of Internet email reliability.
• Technical Responses to Spam (By Dr. John R. Levine) - Feb 15, 2006
  
  In response to the growing torrent of unsolicited bulk email, many technical schemes have been proposed and implemented to distinguish spam from legitimate mail and to block delivery of spam while letting legitimate mail through. Although none of the schemes is the "magic bullet" some of them, particularly when used in combination with each other, can help limit the amount of spam that users receive.
• SPAM - The Issues, Impact and Reducing SPAM (Part 1) (By Jeff McDermott) - Feb 08, 2006
  
  SPAM is one of the biggest challenges facing Internet consumers, corporations, and service providers today. Part 1 of this article explores the Issues and Impact of Spam. Part 2 provides some insight into methods for reducing Spam.
• Tricks of the Spammer's Trade (By hakin9) - Aug 10, 2005
  
  Spammer's try to get their messages through spam filters by using trickery. Let’s see how these tricks work, and how up to date filters spot the trickery and use it to their advantage. This article takes a deeper look into what tricks spammer's use to get past bayesian and heuristic filters.
• MSExchange.org Server Based Antispam Comparison (By The Editor) - Aug 31, 2004
  
  With the multitude of antispam solutions for Exchange, choosing the one that's suited to your network's present and future needs is no simple task. That's why we have prepared this feature comparison in which eight of the leading vendors of antispam solutions have participated. By comparing the features of these solutions side by side, you should be able to get a clearer picture of which solution is the best overall and which one will provide you with the best value for money, ensuring that the solution that you eventually pursue turns out to be the right one.
• Four Popular Anti Spam Filters for Exchange Reviewed (By Synoradzki J., Wawrzyniak P., and Zmudziński M.) - May 10, 2004
  
  Your only true defense against spam mail using Microsoft Exchange is to install third-party solutions. With this article, we are going to compare and evaluate four products, each of them somewhat differentiated by its mode of operation and email filtering techniques.
• Email Compliance (By Singlefin) - Dec 17, 2003
  
  As if the business needs surrounding email aren’t enough for organizations to manage, there has been a recent surge of government regulations that affect this form of communication. These laws, which affect large and small companies alike in practically every industry, include protecting confidential customer information, corporate governance, law enforcement investigations, and the overall need to ensure that email is being used and managed properly from an employee perspective. This paper provides an overview of some of the highly visible U.S. laws affecting email security.
• Reducing Corporate Liability With Filtering and Policy Tools (By Postini) - Oct 16, 2003
  
  The overwhelming majority of corporate email addresses today receive unsolicited commercial email, or spam. For a growing number of recipients, this includes spam with adult content or pornography known as unsolicited pornographic email (UPE). UPE poses serious legal risks to corporations, wastes valuable corporate computing resources, and reduces employee productivity.
• Blocking over 98% of spam using Bayesian filtering technology (By GFI Software) - Oct 08, 2003
  
  This white paper describes how Bayesian mathematics can be applied to the spam problem, resulting in an adaptive, ‘statistical intelligence’ technique that is much harder to circumvent by spammers. It also explains why the Bayesian approach is the best way to tackle spam once and for all, as it overcomes the obstacles faced by more static technologies such as blacklist checking, databases of known spam and keyword checking. This is not to say that these technologies are obsolete, but they cannot be used as effectively as needed if not combined with a Bayesian filter.
• Different Methods of Stopping Spam (By Paul Graham) - Oct 03, 2003
  
  There are many ways to fight spam. Which works best? So far the best single solution is probably Bayesian filtering. But you don't have to choose just one. Many of the following solutions could be used in combination.
• Fighting Spam (By RAV AntiVirus) - Sep 25, 2003
  
  Spam is costing $8.9 billion to U.S. corporations, $2.5 billion for European businesses and another $500 million for U.S. and European service providers. Figuring it takes 4.4 seconds on average to deal with a message, the messages add up to $4 billion in lost productivity for U.S. businesses each year. This white paper will show you why you receive spam in the first place, how spammers operate and measures that can be taken to limit and reduce the volume of spam that is received.
• Stop Spam Now! (By Lyris MailShield) - Jul 11, 2003
  
  Junk e-mail or spam is a growing problem for Internet users, whether you are an individual or a large corporation. According to varying studies, the cost of spam ranges from millions to billions of dollars worldwide. John Buckman, developer of the MailShield anti-spam/antirelay program discusses the impact of spam, and describes 5 strategies for stopping spammers in their tracks.
• The Nigerian Spam Scam Exposed (By Zone-H) - Jun 30, 2003
  
  Ever wondered what would happen if you ever responded to one of the many Nigerian spam scams? Zone-H have done just that and have chronicled every step in this paper, from the first email exchange to the final phone call where they agreed to meet the scammers in Nigeria.
• Combating SPAM Problems in a Corporate Environment (By Brien Posey) - May 20, 2003
  
  Perhaps no problem plagues the Internet as deeply as that of unsolicited junk E-mail, or SPAM. While there’s no doubt that SPAM can be annoying to the end users, SPAM can cause problems for both the network administrators and for those who own or manage a company. The reason for this is that SPAM robs your company of productivity and of system resources.
• Email Harvesting Techniques FAQ (By Uri Raz) - May 19, 2003
  
  The main purpose of this FAQ is to make people aware of spammers' harvesting techniques as a first step toward protecting themselves.
• Dealing Effectively with Spam (By GFI Software) - May 19, 2003
  
  This paper gives information on spam - what it is, its cost, and how to deal with it. Analyses a server based approach versus a client based approach to handling spam.
• Data Protection in the European Union (By European Communities) - May 16, 2003
  
  Information relating to individuals, called ‘personal data’, is collected and used in many aspects of everyday life. Advancement in computer technology along with new telecommunications networks is allowing personal data to travel across borders with greater ease.. As a result, data concerning the citizens of one Member State are sometimes processed in other Member States of the EU. Therefore, as personal data is collected and exchanged more frequently, regulation on data transfers becomes necessary.
• Spam (By Vicomsoft Ltd.) - May 16, 2003
  
  This document is intended to help you understand how to stop spam email with or without the use of an email spam filter or DNS blacklist. We are presenting this information in a Q&A (Questions and Answers) format that we hope will be useful. Our knowledge of this subject relates to Internet connectivity in general, and stems from our own TCP/IP networking technology and experience.
• Spamfighting Overview FAQ (By spamfaq.net) - May 16, 2003
  
  The Spamfighting Overview offers a taste of the many techniques people use to fight spam. The objective isn't to teach you how to fight spam (there are many far superior documents that do just this), but rather to introduce some of the techniques you can use and refer you to some more detailed works.

Spam Links on the net