How do I add Spam Protection to my Exchange 2003 Server?

By far the biggest problem with email is you guessed it, SPAM. By configuring your server to deny 'blacklisted' SMTP servers, you will limit spam as much as 99%.

This will stop listed SMTP Servers from connecting to your exchange server, and this is without using a third-party solution, however I do strongly recommend you use a third-party application to add protection. Including Anti-Virus, and Spam filtering, etc. You may also want to protect yourself from files, etc.

Step by Step
1. Review the list of blacklists available to choose from, there are many out there. The trick is to find a good consistent few. I presently use about 11 of these. Good list at: http://www.declude.com/junkmail/support/ip4r.htm

2. Once youve determined what spam blacklists you wish to use, (not whitelists, just blacklists). Then, load up Exchange 2003 Management Console, Goto the Global Settings > Message Delivery, Then properties.

3. Click the Connection Filtering tab, this is where you add those black lists. for example. Just one of my entries.

Display Name: ORDB - http://www.ordb.org
DNS Suffix of provider: relays.ordb.org
Custom Error message: (I just left blank)

What this will do now whenever an SMTP tries sending you an email, it first checks the SMTP server connecting if its in that black list, and if it is, returns a message back to the user trying to send from that SMTP with that message usually of 'your message was blocked by ORDB - http://www.ordb.org.'

And if you specifically need email from a specific provider, you can still get it, by going to the Exception or Global accept settings.

I hope this starts all you Exchange 2003 administrators off good. Ive been so confident with my spam solution, I openly invite it. (if they want to). And legitimate emails always get through. (Ive not yet had a legitimate not come through).

Let me know if anyone has issues or anything with this, I'll see what I can do.