Home > Ask the Microsoft Exchange Experts > Richard Luckett: Spam and Security Questions & Answers > Configure SMTP relay restrictions in Exchange Server 2003 to stop spam
Ask The Exchange Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Configure SMTP relay restrictions in Exchange Server 2003 to stop spam

Richard Luckett EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Richard Luckett

Pose a Question
Other Exchange Categories
Meet all Exchange Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Exchange Server tips, tutorials and expert advice
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 12 September 2008
Exchange Server 2003 is sending out massive amounts of spam. Is there a way I can stop this from happening? I have already scanned all the PC and server equipment for viruses.

In Exchange System Manager (ESM), I see 4,567 queues followed by non-delivery reports (NDRs).


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google



RELATED CONTENT
Spam and virus protection
How to install Forefront Security for Exchange Server
Block Web beacons and protect OWA users from spam
Controlling spam in Exchange 2007 at the edge transport server level
How file-level antivirus software can harm your Exchange Server
Problems with email spoofing on SBS 2003
Exchange Insider e-zine
Securing your Exchange Server 2007 journaling archives
Troubleshooting Outlook Web Access issues on a 64-bit system
Microsoft Exchange Server security dos and don'ts
Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server Event ID error 6009
Spam and virus protection Research

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Remove Exchange 2003 objects from AD to install Exchange 2010
Leapfrogging from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010
Top 5 Exchange ActiveSync tips
Exchange Mailbag: POP3 settings and Outlook issues
Migrating to Exchange 2007 with correct permissions
Problems receiving email from outside a Exchange Server 2003 domain
Exchange admins: Is it time to rethink your email address policy?
Exchange Server 2003 collects email from only specific POP3 domains
Changing email address formats in Exchange Server 2003
Should you remove .STM files from Exchange Server 2003?
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Research

Richard Luckett: Spam and Security
How effective is tracking the IP address of an email hacker?
Why can't I grant users permissions to an Exchange public folder?
How can I configure Exchange IMF to allow an IP address or DNS?
How to lock down an SMTP relay to prevent spam in Exchange Server 2003
Exchange email sent to a domain using SPF authentication is returned
Why does a security alert pop up when accessing Outlook Web Access?
Tool helps identify inbound Exchange Server email flow issues
Connecting an Apple iPhone to Exchange Server on Windows SBS 2003
Selectively set email permissions for Exchange groups
What event log tracks user access to Exchange Server?

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
backscatter spam  (SearchExchange.com)
greylist  (SearchExchange.com)
image spam  (SearchExchange.com)
KnujOn  (SearchExchange.com)
Sender ID  (SearchExchange.com)
spam confidence level  (SearchExchange.com)
spamblock  (SearchExchange.com)
spim  (SearchExchange.com)
tarpitting  (SearchExchange.com)
Vouch by Reference (VBR)  (SearchExchange.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


First, make sure that the default SMTP relay settings have been applied to your Exchange 2003 servers per Microsoft's article on how to configure SMTP relay restrictions. If your Exchange server is still sending spam, then you should disable all authentication methods except for "anonymous" on your Internet-facing SMTP host. By default, anonymous authentication, will allow messages to be sent, but not relayed.

If outbound spam remains a problem, then the spam is coming from one of your internal hosts. You may consider resetting all passwords in your Exchange organization to regain control over the SMTP relaying, or reset the Relay Restrictions tab to "Allow all computers which successfully authenticate to relay, regardless of the list above."

For more information, read Microsoft's article, Stop Exchange Server spam from the inside by locking down SMTP.

Do you have comments on this Ask the Expert Q&A? Let us know.

Ask an Exchange Server question in our forum.



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Outlook Web Access (OWA) Tips and Advice
HomeNewsTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsAsk the ExpertsMultimediaWhite PapersIT Downloads
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2004 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy 		  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts