Endpoint Protection

One of our staff Lotus mail has been deleted (on the Mail Server) after SEP11 detected W32.Netsky.P@mm worm (on 7 May 2009).

I have checked the Antivirus and AntiSpyware settings on the SEPM Server. It should not delete the mail.

(1) How to restore the user's mail?
(2) What setting to change in the SEPM server so that this does not happened again?

(3) Based on the policy, SEP11 was supposed to only quarantine the email file but not delete. Image shows that it was deleted. Why?

(4) Should mail files be quanrantined? If it is an attachment, then only the attachment should be quarantined and not the whole mail file.
If required, email files may need to be excluded but just notification alert. So, what settings in the SEPM server need to be changed to achieve this?

Thanks for your reply. This will also help others from losing emails and prevent this from happening.

Hi,

       You have asked multiple questions in this thread. We will try to answer the root cause of this issue.  We can specify different actions to be performed by SEPM in case of a virus threat. I am attaching 2 screen shots for your reference. Please check the settings at your end and let us know if you require further assistance.

Hi,

This refer to the case 320-195-709 submitted on  14 May 2009.

Presently one of our staff email has been clean by SEP11. However, SEP cleaned by deleting the whole email instead of the attachment. (1)  What do to to recover the Lotus email again?

My Senior Manager wanted to know what settings need to be changed so that SEP11  will not delete the email again:
(2) Should mail files be quanrantined? If it is an attachment, then only the attachment should be quarantined and not the whole mail file. If required, email files may need to be excluded but just notification alert. So, what settings in the SEPM server need to be changed to achieve this?

Hi,

What do to to recover the Lotus email again?.......I am afraid it cannot be recovered.


Should mail files be quanrantined? If it is an attachment, then only the attachment should be quarantined and not the whole mail file. If required, email files may need to be excluded but just notification alert. So, what settings in the SEPM server need to be changed to achieve this?....Its up to the system admin to decide whether it should be quarantined or deleted.  When a file comes with an attachment the file gets quarantined and as when the new definitions arrive the file is cleaned and moved back from the quarantine.



  Symantec encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security best practices:

1. Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
2. Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
3. Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
4. Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
5. Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
6. Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
7. If a threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
8. Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
9. Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
10. Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
11. Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
12. If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device's visibility is set to "Hidden" so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to "Unauthorized", requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.