Suggested server-side spam filtering?

Avast Business Avast Server Protection
1

I was wondering if there were any anit-spam filtering software that could be recommended to sit on a Windows 2003 SBS running Exchange with Avast! antivirus with plugins for Exchange and ISA.

I saw a thread for Spamihilator, but this is a client side software. The filtering provided with Exchange is not very good since if messages are being mis-categorized, you can only whitelist the sender. But that is bad for us because the sender addresses are often forged, so it would whitelist some spam when we just want to whitelist a particular sender.

Ideally, I would want a server side software that would use a form of Bayesian filtering. And then a plugin for Outlook 2003 to be able to mark a message as spam or not to update the filter on the server.

2

Here is a recent comparative review of server-side anti-spam products.

Ken

3

Thanks for the link, it was lot of help.

Of the products tested, it appears that the only two that let a user train the filter are Advanced Spam Defense and Policy Patrol Email Filter Enterprise Edition

Has anyone had any experience using either of these pieces of software on the same computer that Avast! is running on?

4

I have never installed server-side anti-spam software, so I can’t comment on whether the applications you mention work on the avast! server.

I did look at the user manuals for both applications:

http://www.sybari.com/DlRoot/Licensed/manuals/ASD_40_UserGuide.pdf
http://www.policypatrol.com/docs/PolicyPatrol3Manual.pdf

I think you might be disappointed in the how limited the Bayesian functionality and user training are in both applications. A client-side Bayesian filter like SpamBayes offers far more user control.

Here’s another review (more than a year old) of anti-spam software for Exchange Server:

http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?EditorialsID=362

Ken

5

You can also use:

IMF (Intelligent Message Filter) from Microsoft - FREE

OR

This is another freebie I seen recommended at SPAMCOP…

http://martijnjongen.com/Default.aspx?tabid=27

Sorry! Haven’t tried any of these with Avast yet.

Hope this helps.

6

I’ve been using brightmail antispam and it is flawless. All spam is gone.

7

GFI MailEssentials highly recomended
we have this couple running on some small business clients.
no conflicts, no SPAM, no viruses

Stay Healthy
Computer M.D.