From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Jul 10 09:05:50 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2828937B401 for ; Thu, 10 Jul 2003 09:05:50 -0700 (PDT) Received: from kirk.dlee.org (pool-141-156-128-60.res.east.verizon.net [141.156.128.60]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E61E443FA3 for ; Thu, 10 Jul 2003 09:05:48 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from dgl@kirk.dlee.org) Received: from kirk.dlee.org (dgl@localhost.dlee.org [127.0.0.1]) by kirk.dlee.org (8.12.8/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h6AG5ihs015316; Thu, 10 Jul 2003 12:05:44 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from dgl@kirk.dlee.org) Received: (from dgl@localhost) by kirk.dlee.org (8.12.8/8.12.9/Submit) id h6AG5inD015315; Thu, 10 Jul 2003 12:05:44 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 12:05:43 -0400 From: Doug Lee To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20030710160543.GJ485@kirk.dlee.org> Mail-Followup-To: Doug Lee , freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.25i Subject: Spam and ad/popup blockers: Recommendations please X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 16:05:50 -0000 I seek a good system (or systems) for filtering out mail spam, email viruses, and web pop-up ads and such at our FreeBSD Internet gateway. I run FreeBSD 4.8-STABLE at this site, and all users behind the FreeBSD gateway run various versions of Windows and mailers (Outlook, Outlook Express, and an email system or two embedded in other applications such as GoldMine). I will consider systems that (1) automatically reroute spam out of user email folders, or (2) simply flag spams for users to process themselves via simple header checks (I know Spam Assassin works that way). For web filtering, I assume I need to set up a proxy; I'll have to learn the best way to do that, but I know ipfw well enough to modify our firewall rules as needed. So far, I am examining the following packages (admittedly, this list is based on little more than a scan of Ports). I welcome additions to this list and recommendations for or against any package at all. In short, I want experience-based info more than package descriptions. :) bayespam (Bayesian filtering looks nice if not too hard to maintain) bmf (same comment as above) drbl (sounds good IF the distributed list is considered effective) mailscanner messagewall Spam Assassin Vipul's Razor (the razor-agents port) And for web filtering (ads, popups, etc.): junkbuster middleman privoxy I will consider packages for either of these goals (email spam blocking and web filtering) that are not in the Ports tree. I am, though, looking to minimize the need for ongoing administrative work for whatever I install, since I am the admin but have little time allotted to it (I'm employed as a programmer but run the server because somebody's gotta do it :) ). Specific goals for both systems: 1. Maximum effectiveness against unwanted stuff without blocking wanted stuff. 2. Minimal upkeep time required from admin. 3. Simplicity of use by user (users can mail spam to an address I set up so it's flagged as spam, but I don't want users to have to know a lot of tech stuff like procmail just to filter spam). Virus protection at the gateway is a lower priority since we protect individual computers, but it wouldn't hurt. Thanks much for any recommendations/comments. -- Doug Lee dgl@dlee.org http://www.dlee.org "Pray devoutly, but hammer stoutly." --Sir William G. Benham