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Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange provides integrated mail protection against virus threats, spam, and other unwanted content for Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003 servers. Symantec’s NAVEXTM antivirus technology defends against new and known viruses. Attachment and subject line blocking capabilities provide responses against, and support for hourly definition updates enables organizations to respond quickly to, emerging threats. In addition, a Mass-Mailer Cleanup feature eliminates worm-infected viruses. With integrated LiveUpdate functionality, virus definitions can be deployed enterprise-wide without stopping scan services or incurring server downtime. Basic spam tools include heuristics-based detection, custom filtering rules, and real-time blacklists and whitelisting.
Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange provides full support for Exchange 2003, including the VS API 2.5 and SCL functionality. It can be centrally managed through a multi-server console.
"Great Antivirus, But That's About It" - m3Rlin [January 2, 2008] Product Rating: 5/5
The antivirus works pretty well and the fact that Symantec is a popular vendor, you can find answers to your problems / questions simply by searching on Google. I have not had to call support yet so I cannot say whether I like or dislike it. The free spam feature is useless and I even got a Symantec representative to agree. Supposedly, the paid feature is a lot better.
"Junk... and customer support stinks." - James Storm [September 7, 2006] Product Rating: 1/5
We've been running Symantec's offering for almost a year and we have finally "had it up to here" with this software. Our mail admin has to clear his schedule for two days before he winces and initiates a software update from Symantec. Just about every time we do an update, our exchange server becomes unusable and we have to perform registry hacks (as suggested by Symantec support) to undo patches. Support calls are measured in hours. Usually after the second or third hour, the support rep says "let me transfer you to someone who can help you..." then we get a dial tone. Brutal.
We uninstalled the product for the last time today and will be on the phone to a competitor in the morning.
Stay away from Symantec.
"Quarantine a total mess" - Simon [July 5, 2006] Product Rating: 2/5
Loved it initially till found literally 100's messages being blocked as unscanable attachment even though they were word docs. Couldn't do anything about getting them released either as they were not in the normal quarantine folder.....
"SMSME v5.03 vs Brightmail v6.03" - Kingsley [June 5, 2006] Product Rating: 2/5
Well, after testing out the new SMSME v5.03, it was a disappointment that I found out from Symantec Tech Support that the problem was in the design and there's nothing we can do about the quarantined messages.
In the review and analysis, SMSME appears to have potentional but has issues...if the developers were to think and see from the customer's point of view. For now, Brightmail would be better in terms of manageability of false positives.
SMSME v5.03
Pros:
-In a nutshell, it is both an Antivirus and Antispam all in one. -Filtering rule, Blacklist and Whitelist is very good and easy to manage with cut and paste -Manageability-wise it is quite fast with the cut and paste feature -Report has nice pie chart.
Cons:
-Spam filtering using content rule is OVERLY sensitive right. Need to play around with METACHARACTERS to sharpen the content filtering rule. -Heuristic scan settings suggested by Symantec Tech Support did not work well as too many legits were spammed out. -Messages that gets quarantined, you cannot view the contents of the message -Messages that gets quarantined, when you release from the quarantine, it sends it out as an HTML attachment and not in it's original form as oppose to Brightmail. -Reports are not detailed enough.
Brightmail v6.03
Pros: -Has Antivirus capable and has Antispam -View contents of quarantined message. -Release quarantined messages without incidents. -Reports are detailed.
Cons: -Manageablity-wise, slow and tedious to update the filtering rules. -MySQL, like a truck...it is slow to start up before it becomes very really fast and powerful. -No pie chart for reporting.
In our organization, releasing quarantined messages without incident is the most important thing. Users don't like to see those alert messages from SMSME and then attach the message in an HTML format.
Brightmail is better in managing false postives. We can view the header online and assess the situation. AND we can release from quarantine without incident and without the user's knowledge that it was ever spammed in the first place.
"SMS for SMTP 4.1 - OK" - Brandon B [September 22, 2005] Product Rating: 3/5
Good Points Albeit I had to use multiple external RBL, it does work well for spam and virus filter.
Bad Points Expensive compared to other products. No ability to select which NIC SMTP is bound too. Vague error messages - interface appears forced. No ability to monitor real-time performance counters. No ability to view items in Fast or Slow Queue.
"Spam Definition for Symantec Mail Security." - Angus [June 22, 2005]
It seems my version 4.1.4 have been using spam definition dated 29 Mar 05 for sometime. but couldn't find a way to update this manually, anyone have any idea on this matter ? :)
"Two terrible bugs in Symantec Mail Security for SMTP" - Vincent Chan [April 11, 2005] Product Rating: 1/5
1. As a Network Engineer, I installed the Mail Security for SMTP and tested it. But the mail security dropped all my testing email without ANY NOTIFICATION, FINALLY, I found that it would drop all email without the installation of license. The manual and program do not indicate such matter. Even Windows Product Activation program will notify user about the activation issue. Why Symantec can make such misleading to customer! It wastes me a lot of time! 2. Symantec Technician answered me Mail Security cannot be configured binding to one of IP address. But IT CANNOT NOT DO THAT!. It will occupy ALL IP address's Port 25. That's means Mail Security cannot be installed in my front-end firewall. It wastes customer's money for purchasing one physical server separately!
"Raul needs to grow a brain - a lil bit" - Londo [February 28, 2005] Product Rating: 3/5
I have been in I.T. for over 15 years, and his comment "I think you guys need to learn how to run networks before you start takin hits @ the software guys." is usually put out by new I.T. professionals that think they know what is going on. Symantec's product line is fine for someone that wants a med end product, its not fire-n-forget as Raul suggested, and the lil bit of effort is not really the truth. I have spent more time actually configuring this product, both desktop and server, and the mail security than I would have on something like Trend Micro's product line. My one beef is the time in which Symantec releases virus definitions, and the 3-4 lag is almost more than I would expect any company to deal with, especially in face of a new viral threat.
"Definition Update" - Matt [September 30, 2004] Product Rating: 5/5
It all depends if you are behind a firewall which will prevent automatic update of definition to run. If this is the case, you can automate the process by going to the link below and download the two files listed on the Symantec site and use "Task Scheduler" to run the batch file. You will need to create a rule on the firewall to allow that specific server to access FTP if you have FTP restriction on your site. The link to the two files on Symantec site is: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/d04e6f2f2dfad5de88256c910079502c/80e201e3738ae3cc88256c55004c28f4?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam
Hope this helps.
"Take it easy" - frosher [March 29, 2004] Product Rating: 1/5
For two months we’ve had a lot problems with our servers. We have front-end and back-end Exchange 2000 servers. We installed Mail Security 4.0 in both of them, in the front-end the store scanning was set disabled, suddenly, the users confronted a number of problems accessing their mailboxes and the backup took 18 hours.
After deactivating the product, the operation came to normal. I saw guides from other sites talking about the same situation. We are considering to install the new version 4.5, but we haven’t decided yet.
"Take it easy" - frosher [March 29, 2004] Product Rating: 1/5
For two months we’ve had a lot problems with our servers. We have front-end and back-end Exchange 2000 servers. We installed Mail Security 4.0 in both of them, in the front-end the store scanning was set disabled, suddenly, the users confronted a number of problems accessing their mailboxes and the backup took 18 hours.
After deactivating the product, the operation came to normal. I saw guides from other sites talking about the same situation. We are considering to install the new version 4.5, but we haven’t decided yet.
"Good Overall...SPAM filters average" - NetGuru [February 2, 2004] Product Rating: 4/5
Good overall usability...love the alerting and real-time stats...cannot get it to work with RBL anti-spam lists.
"Confusing on the spam filtering, and it's not working as the way it should be" - TBold [October 17, 2003] Product Rating: 1/5
Who ever got the spam filtering part working, it's great, i have followed the manual and tried everything i can but it's still not working as the way it should.
"Works great for me" - Raul [September 4, 2003]
I have been implementing the corp ed. w/exchange for over a year @ differents clients. No problems here. Not 1 virus and the spam protection works great. As well as the content filtering. Everything is customizable so it takes a lil bit of effort. Set it and forget it ( except for minor subject and content updates). Live update never fails either. I think you guys need to learn how to run networks before you start takin hits @ the software guys.
"" - Linge [August 11, 2003]
The spamfiltering is in fact close to useless...the rest works great....
"not practical at all..." - david [April 7, 2003]
automatic update is not working... you have to do it manually every time you want to.. i dont recommend it at all..!!
"" - Mike [January 14, 2003]
I agree with GolgothA - They have to work a lot on spam filtering. Moreover, I am having lately problems with the automatic update procedures...and their TS is not responsive nor professional at all...
"It works great except for the spam filtering" - GolgothA [October 23, 2002]
Too many spams are still getting through even from designated spammers.
"" - Bill [October 11, 2002]
It is good and if you bundle it in with the Corporate Edition or the Enterprise Edition the cost is not any more than other options. As with all Antivirus software you must upgrade or you will not be protected from the latest viruses. Since the software is integrated with the NAV Corp the virus definitions are updated nightly if need be and it eliminates any outbreaks.
"" - K' [August 27, 2002]
It's good... But it's too EXPENSIVE and you should upgrade each year. So I don't recommend it to you.
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