Re: UKNM: Mail Server Virgin!

[Leigh Blue Caldwell]

> We've got a BT leased line and are running our own DNS and  mail server.  BT has just sent us a message saying that they believe we may be the subject of spam activity.  I've checked the mail server activity and the security system and can find no evidenc> e of anything untoward - the only regular, reasonably heavy flow of mail comes from being on this list - and typically BT can offer us no further explanation.

 

> Has anyone any ideas, clues or general comment on what else to look out for, where else to look or other action which I can take.  

> 


It is possible (indeed likely) that you are being used as a mail relay

by some spammer or other, especially if you have a standard system

configuration with no special protections in place.  What kind of

mail server are you running and do you know if it blocks or logs

external relay use?  This is a potential problem not only because it

uses your (and BT's) bandwidth, but because a significant number of

system administrators will refuse to accept mail from you if you are

found to be allowing (deliberately or just by default) your system to

be used by spammers as a relay, and don't do anything about it.  This

isn't a policy I particularly agree with, but it is a fact of life

that a lot of admins are starting to carry it out.


If you do feel it's a problem and/or if BT complain again, I can put

you in touch with someone who can help you to analyse the situation

and find out what needs to be done.  They do charge for their time,

though.  I'd expect an audit and some fixes to cost a couple of

hundred pounds.  Or the relevant information is available for free on

many newsgroups and mailing lists, if you don't mind doing the

configuration yourself.



Regards,

	Leigh.



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