Utilizing the MAPSSM lists (RBLSM, RSSSM, DULSM) with NT or MS Exchange Server
One way to implement filtering and testing against external lists in an NT or MS Exchange environment is to place a machine running a Unix variant into the incoming mail stream and have the filtering take place there before passing it to Exchange. This solution is attractive because there is such a wide variety of solutions available in the *nix environment. General instructions on implementing the MAPSSM lists, and solutions involving Unix variants running in front of Exchange:
RBLSM - <http://mail-abuse.org/rbl/usage.html>
RSSSM - <http://work-rss.mail-abuse.org/how.html>
DULSM - <http://mail-abuse.org/dul/usage.htm>
Products that support use of the MAPSSM-style lists, some of which run on NT:
<http://www.mail-abuse.org/rbl/endorsements.html>
Microsoft NT / MS Exchange solutions:
Lyris Technologies' MailShield
<http://www.mailshield.com/>
"MailShield is a general purpose Internet mail filtering tool. It can be used to block junk mail, prohibit mail relaying, diffuse mail bomb attacks, and other mail filtering tasks." Custom filter configurations allow use of external lists. For an independent review, read Slaughterhouse's review:
<http://www.slaughterhouse.com/pick_092299.html>
Messageware Incorporated's Praetor Messaging Firewall
<http://www.messageware.com/products/praetor/distribPR.html>
"Based on Windows NT, Praetor essentially sits in front of Exchange and serves as a comprehensive messaging firewall." "Praetorís state-of-the-art technology utilizes a Real-time Blackhole List (RBLSM) to identify known spam domains."
GFI's Mail Essentials for Exchange at
<http://www.gfi.com/mesindex.htm>
"Email security, content checking & anti-virus gateway for Exchange". It is unclear whether this product natively supports lookups against external lists.
Elron Software's Message Inspector
<http://www.elronsoftware.com/enterprise/message_inspector.htm>
"With Message Inspector, you can easily manage, filter and if necessary block unauthorized company communications made through e-mail, newsgroups and FTP sites." It is unclear whether this product natively supports lookups against external lists.
Content Technologies' Mailsweeper for Exchange
<http://www.us.mimesweeper.com/products/msw4exchange/index.htm>
Email content control and filtering tool. It is unclear whether this product natively supports lookups against external lists.
NEMX Power Tools for MS Exchange Server
<http://www.nemx.com/products/powertools/index.asp>
Spam Blocker stops unsolicited and unwanted email right at the front door of Exchange, before it can waste users' time or steal valuable message storage space. Using a combination of header recognition techniques and multiple DNSBL database lookups, Spam Blocker is your most effective defence in the battle against junk mail. The first native Exchange product to incorporate multiple DNSBL database support. lists
There are some other companies doing mail processing on NT for antivirus purposes. It may be possible to adapt antivirus tools to antispam uses.
Exchange 2000 will be operating on top of the STMP service that ships in Windows 2000. That service is designed to be extensible and should provide an environment for the implementation of spam filters.
Overview: <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/techart/transportevents.htm>
Drill-down, examples: Go to MSDN Library, drill through: Platform SDK -> Messaging and Collaboration Services -> SMTP Server Events for Windows 2000 or CDO for Windows 2000 (and then go to SMTP/NNTP Transport Events)
Other filtering tools and products:
<http://www.emailtoday.com/emailtoday/dir/email_filters.htm>
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