These add-ins, mostly for Microsoft Exchange Server, control the content of incoming and outgoing messages with a variety of techniques:
- Filtering attachments
- Filtering junk mail
- Filtering for objectionable content
Some are direct add-ins for Exchange Server; others operate externally on Internet mail going into and out of the server. Many combine content control with virus scanning, archiving and related functions.
The whole idea of monitoring e-mail for "objectionable" content makes me nervous. I think a clear, enforceable corporate e-mail policy and ongoing user education comprise the best approach to ensuring proper use of e-mail. However, the market apparently disagrees, or there wouldn't be such a growing number of products in this area. On the other hand, filtering for obvious spam and undesired attachment types (like the .vbs files propagated by the ILOVEYOU virus), is a feature that every organization can put to good use.
The tools listed below are server tools; for personal junk mail filtering and content control, see Rules to filter junk mail - Other Tools.
Microsoft released its Microsoft Exchange Intelligent Message Filter for Exchange 2003 in May of 2004. Several vendors are planning products to complement Microsoft's offering.
To add disclaimers to outgoing email, see Disclaimer and Signature Tools
Tools in the Spotlight
CodeTwo Exchange Rules Pro goes beyond standard Transport email rules on Microsoft Exchange 2016, 2013, 2010 or 2007 and lets you fully control email flow, filter messages and add signatures and branding to emails. It is easier to use than Exchange native tools and it gives you everything Exchange offers, and a lot of new features Exchange admins consider a must-have. Quickly create group forward rules, auto-responders, filter messages, control email content, rewrite sender's addresses, tag messages, add signatures and disclaimers, and more. |
Tools
Use CodeTwo Attach Unblocker to configure Microsoft Outlook to allow the openig of the attachments blocked by default (for example, .exe, .url, .reg). The program is an Outlook extension; its settings are available at the property sheet in the Outlook options, which ensures quick and convenient editing. Supports all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2010 64-bit |
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Data Publisher add-in provides a means to bring your Outlook contents such as mails, appointments, tasks or contacts to SharePoint lists, where these can be shared with other users. This process can be performed manually, or automatically and is achieved without using any scripts or programming, with complete seamless experience to the users. In other words, Data Publisher extends your Microsoft Outlook to effectively act as a content provider for your enterprise SharePoint repository. It can be adapted to feed data to SharePoint lists for various purposes, such as for issue tracking, timesheets, projects or contact managements. |
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An electronic discovery tool specifically designed to perform dynamic keyword searches in Exchange mailboxes, PST files and common file storage areas. Discovery Attender can automatically execute scans of message subject, body and attachments through customizable search criteria. Content searches are transparent to end-users and can be targeted to specific groups or users. Once critical information is located, it can be moved or copied to a secure location. |
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Exclaimer Image Analyzer provides business owners with email image scanning functionality, ensuring no images of pornographic or inappropriate nature pass through the corporate email system. Exclaimer Image Analyzer works in conjunction with Active Directory through Exchange server 2007 and 2010. This means any email sent via Outlook, Outlook Express, Smartphones, PDAs and BlackBerrys are automatically scanned for inappropriate content. An initial audit period allows you to report on the level of imagery going through your corporate email system, categorizing them into 'clean' and 'suspect' using the reporting tools. |
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Anti-spam, disclaimers (with variables), archiving Internet mail, Internet mail usage reports. Includes a POP downloader and personalized server-based autoreplies that can include attachments and tracking numbers. Can archive to an ODBC database. Current version includes Overall improved anti-spam technology, an additional anti-spam engine called SpamRazer along with improved performance and a real-time dashboard. GFI MailEssentials now supports GFI Directory, enabling administrators to manage users just like they would with Active Directory when installed in a DMZ. |
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Protects against email viruses and other threats with multiple virus engines, content and attachment quarantine, HTML script analysis, recognition of common HTML mail exploits, and other features. Uses the Exchange Virus Scanning API to check both internal and external messages. An available freeware version includes one anti-virus scanner and performs basic keyword content analysis. |
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Mail Attender provides comprehensive content management in PST files (personal storage folders) on desktops/servers, mailboxes and public folders. With MA Enterprise, administrators can distribute/enforce common policies, archive data and search content in multiple information stores from a central web interface. Also, can track statistical information such as total message/attachment count, size and type while tracking usage of individual users. Works with Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and Office 365. |
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Performs anti-virus and content scanning of traffic between Exchange and the Internet. Can also perform automatic compression. |
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Outlook Send Assistant is an e-mail security tool that warns or prevents accidental disclosure and sending of e-mails to unintended recipients. Compatible with Outlook 2007-Outlook 2016, this powerful tool 'warns' when sending e-mail messages to specific recipients or groups.Features include alerting users when sending to external recipients, Distribution Lists or using the BCC field. Customized prompts will warn you when the "Reply All" button is used, as well as alert you that the e-mail message you are sending has a blank Subject line. |
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Exchange event sink that moves into a Spam folder in a user's mailbox any message that carries an X-header or subject line marking it as spam, as added by such tools as SpamAssassin. For Exchange 2007. Version available for Exchange 2000/2003 and for public folders. |
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Team Publisher provides an easy way for work-group users to bring Outlook contents to SharePoint. It is just a click way to share and publish mails, appointments, tasks or contacts from Outlook to one or more of the administrator chosen SharePoint lists. This is achieved without using any scripts or programming, providing a seamless experience to the users. To be even more productive, publishing to SharePoint can be automated. In other words, Team Publisher extends your Outlook to feed data to SharePoint lists for various purposes, such as for email archiving, issue tracking, timesheets, and projects or contact managements. |
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ORF integrates with Exchange and the IIS SMTP Service to filter email using domain and URL blacklists (DNSBLs and SURBLs). It also supports Attachment Filtering, with the option to quarantine, reject, or neutralize using attachment replacement; Greylisting (an aggressive, but efficient anti-spam technique); Reverse DNS-based sender validation; Keyword Blacklist (supports regular expressions); HELO Blacklist with standard conformance check; email Character Set Blacklist; Honeypot/Spamtrap support. Supports Exchange 2016. |
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Email security software for Exchange featuring world-class antivirus, antispam, and a powerful, granular attachment filter. |
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Sits between Exchange Server and the Internet to scan messages for viruses, attachments and unwanted subject lines and add a disclaimer to outgoing messages. Also handles scheduled ETRN and statistics and can keep a copy of every message sent. Can detect attachments in rich-text messages, remove rich-text or HTML formatting, block messages in different languages, block spam based on a spam DNS database, |
More Information
- Anti-virus Tools -- Some of these also include attachment filtering.
- Automatic Messaging Processing Tools
- Compression Tools
- Mail Tools
- XADM How to Filter Junk Mail in Exchange 2000
- Quarantining Malicious Outlook Attachments -- procmail script fragment for blocking messages containing potentially dangerous attachments
- Using Real-Time Blackhole Lists For Filtering Email
Articles on using event sinks in Exchange 2000 to perform file scans and add disclaimers. Note the fine print -- these techniques don't work when Outlook is the client:
- HOW TO Register a Transport Event Sink for the SMTP Service in Exchange 2000 Server -- sample checks for .vbs file attachments
- HOW TO Add a Disclaimer to Outgoing SMTP Messages in VB
- HOW TO Add a Disclaimer to Outgoing SMTP Messages in VBScript
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