Question

What is the best antivirus for Windows 2003 Server / Exchange?

Asked by: diablo-26

Hello,

I was running Norton Corporate Edition on our Windows 2003 Server / Exchange 2003 Server.  But then read that it can cause problems or corruption cause it's not really an integrated solution, just dumb file scanner basically.

I'm already running GFI Mail Essentials, and GFI Mail Security, and we have Gateway Antivirus on our Sonic Wall firewall.  But just this last week I found a phishing page for Ebay installed on our PHP / MySQL based chat program and now once in a while some fake users will be signing up on our Simple Machines Forum software which is another free PHP / MySQL based program.  Nobody was really using the chat program at all so I just deleted it entirely, but would like to someday use the forum package.

Was thinking about putting Norton Corporate back on, cause we never had a problem with it, but if there is a better / wiser solution out there I would like to know about it.  It seems the GFI stuff is keeping the mail safe, but what about all the other files on the server?   Or should I just re-install the norton and exclude certain areas from scanning?

Thanks,

Matt

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Asked On
2007-02-24 at 09:44:18ID22411146
Tags

antivirus

,

2003

,

best

,

windows

,

server

Topics

Anti-Virus

,

Server Anti-Virus

,

Windows 2003 Server

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: leewPosted on 2007-02-24 at 09:51:01ID: 18602468

I don't see how norton or anything else is going to protect you from the problems your having now.  It sounds like you've been hacked and you need to make sure your products are fully patched and that you have changed all your passwords.  Then start logging things and find out who/where these things are coming from.  

Have you done virus scans and found viruses?  Because if the problems are as you describe, I doubt you've found any.

But frankly, I wouldn't install or use a norton/symantec product anymore if I had the choice...  they are a GREAT marketing company and an AWFUL software company.

 

by: SembeePosted on 2007-02-24 at 13:06:52ID: 18602936

I don't think there is a single "best" AV application.
Each anti virus application has its up sides and its downsides.

In the IT industry AV software is almost like a religion, everyone thinks their's is best. You get a few converts, but that is it.

Some will dislike Norton/Symantec products - others will say they use nothing else.
For Norton/Symtantec you could say McAfee, Kapersky, Trend, Grisoft, Panda, Bit Defender, the list goes on.

If you want to look at an alternative, then I would suggest that you evaluate the smaller players - so avoid McAfee and possibly Trend.
I have used personally Grisoft, Panda and Bit Defender. All three are cheaper than the big two and seem to use less resources.

No AV is 100% effective, and the one that is the fastest to react to a new threat today may not be the fastest tomorrow.

The only thing I do suggest is that you use something different on Exchange to what is used on the servers themselves and the desktops. For example if you had Trend on the Exchange server, then you would use Panda on the desktops. The idea being that if one doesn't catch it, the other will.
GFI Mail Security deals with that problem quite nicely with its multiple engines, but you may want to look at what engines it uses and find a product for the desktops/servers that does not use any of those engines in order to maximise your protection.

You pay your money and take your choice.

Simon.

 

by: c_mcclungPosted on 2007-02-24 at 13:23:58ID: 18602981

e-Trust ITM has 2 seperately developed engines (the only thing shared is the viruses themselves).. making the 'one av for servers and one for clients' easy... It is antispyware as well. Killing 2 birds with one stone... actually, that's 3 birds. I have heard bad things said about e-trust, but none of those peoiple had deployed it large scale (I have, and I like it, +i am nazi when it comes to av hogging my resources). I like Trend as well, and it is inexpensive. But really, they all do their job, and like sembee said, it's a personal choice.

 

by: bleeuwenPosted on 2007-02-25 at 01:38:44ID: 18604562

Besides the fact you are probally hacked, always patch to the latest level and use an anti-virus solution. Use a anti-viru program on your exchange server for your server and files and use a anti-virus software program for your exchange (virusses in e-mail). Exclude your exchange databases from file scanning.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823166
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ent-security.nsf/docid/2005040513412648?Open&dtype=corp&tdir=reg_eu&tpre=reg_eu&src=ent_tutweb_eu

 

by: leewPosted on 2007-02-25 at 11:59:18ID: 18605914

Funny... the selected answer sounds a lot like what I said.

 

by: bleeuwenPosted on 2007-02-25 at 12:34:40ID: 18606026

indeed plus a guide to exclude your exchange database from local anti-virus programs.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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