What are the most effective settings for SmarterMail’s Anti-Spam if it’s the only Anti-Spam I’m using for my server?

IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT USE THE SETTINGS IN THIS PAPER IF YOU ARE USING DECLUDE FOR YOUR ANTISPAM NEEDS AS IT WILL CAUSE DOUBLE SCORES!

The following settings are what we find to be the most efficient in catching spam…

Instructions for SM 15x and below...

Enable greylisting - Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface. Click Security then Greylisting. Use the following settings (4 min block period, 360 minute pass period, 36 day record expiration, Apply to Everyone except specified countries / IP addresses ). Click Save

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface. Click Security then Antispam Administration. Enable the below tests for Filtering with the following weights under the Spam Checks tab. If you need to change a weight for one of the below test, simply double-click the test and you will be able to.

SPF – weight of 30 (set weight 30 for SPF-Fail. All other SPF settings should get a 0 weight)

Reverse DNS – weight of 20

Instructions for SM 16x and 17x...

Enable greylisting - Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface. Click Settings. Find the Greylisting Options box. Use the following settings (4 min block period, 360 minute pass period, 36 day record expiration. Be sure to slide the Enable Greylisting slider to the right to enable it. Click Save

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface. Click Settings. Click Antispam. Click Spam Checks. Double-click the below tests. Set the weights that we have suggested. Slide the Enable Spool Filtering slider to the right to enable it. Click Save.

SPF – weight of 30 (set weight 30 for SPF-Fail. All other SPF settings should get a 0 weight)

Reverse DNS – weight of 20

The following tests should be set up in SmarterMail Antispam as RBLs. To do this in SM 15x or below, do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Security then Antispam Administration.
Click the Add RBL button at the top of the screen and a box will pop open.
For the Name and Description fields, you can use any name that you like. For example, SORBS, SPAMCOP, etc...
For the Weight field, use the specified weight for each test in the list below.
For the Hostname field, use the specified hostname for each test in the list below.
For the Required Lookup Value field, use the IP addresses specified for each test in the list below (if you see a *, use the * instead of an IP).
Be sure to put a check in the Enabled box next to the Required Lookup Value field.
Click Save and the box will close.
You will now see your added RBL in the list of tests.
Be sure to put a check in the Enable for Filtering box to the right of the new test.
Click Save again on the upper left hand side of the screen.

The following tests should be set up in SmarterMail Antispam as RBLs. To do this in SM 16x and 17x do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Settings then Antispam.
Click RBL Lists.
Click New and a box will pop up.
For the Name and Description fields, you can use any name that you like. For example, SORBS, SPAMCOP, etc...
For the Weight field, use the specified weight for each test in the list below.
For the Hostname field, use the specified hostname for each test in the list below.
For the Required Lookup Value field, use the IP addresses specified for each test in the list below (if you see a *, use the * instead of an IP).
Be sure to slide the slider to the right in the area next to the Required Lookup Value field so that it is enabled.
Next, slide the Enable for Spool Filtering slider to the right to enable it for filtering.
Click Save.

BARRACUDA	b.barracudacentral.org	127.0.0.2 – weight of 15
BACKSCATTER	ips.backscatterer.org	127.0.0.2 – weight of 4
CBL	cbl.abuseat.org	127.0.0.2 – weight of 6
GBUDB	truncate.gbudb.net	127.0.0.2 – weight of 30
HOSTKARMA-BLACK	hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 10
HOSTKARMA-YELLOW	dnswl.junkemailfilter.com	127.0.0.3 – weight of -2
IX	ix.dnsbl.manitu.net	127.0.0.2 – weight of 5
MCAFEE	cidr.bl.mcafee.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 10
MAILSPIKE-L5	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.10 - weight of 15
MAILSPIKE-L4	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.11 - weight of 10
MAILSPIKE-L3	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.12 - weight of 8
MAILSPIKE-L2	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.13 - weight of 6
MAILSPIKE-L1	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.14 - weight of 4
MAILSPIKE-H1	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.16 - weight of -1
MAILSPIKE-H2	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.17 - weight of -2
MAILSPIKE-H3	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.18 - weight of -3
MAILSPIKE-H4	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.19 - weight of -4
MAILSPIKE-H5	rep.mailspike.net	127.0.0.20 - weight of -5
MSRBL	combined.rbl.msrbl.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 6
SEM-BS	backscatter.spameatingmonkey.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 5
SEM-BL	bl.spameatingmonkey.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 7
SENDERSCORE	bl.score.senderscore.com	127.0.0.6 - weight of 5
SORBS-DUL	dul.dnsbl.sorbs.net	127.0.0.10 – weight of 5
SORBS-NEW	new.spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net	127.0.0.6 - weight of 3
SORBS-RECENT	recent.spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net	127.0.0.6 - weight of 3
SORBS-NOMAIL	nomail.rhsbl.sorbs.net	127.0.0.12 - weight of 10
SPAMCOP	bl.spamcop.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 15
SPAMRATS	spam.spamrats.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 4
SURRIEL	psbl.surriel.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 5
UBL	ubl.unsubscore.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 4
UCEPROTECT-1	dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 4
UCEPROTECT-2	dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 2
UCEPROTECT-3	dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 2
ZEN	zen.spamhaus.org	* - weight of 15
BONDEDSENDER	query.bondedsender.org	127.0.0.10 - weight of -15
IADB	iadb.isipp.com	127.0.0.1 - weight of -10

The following tests should be set up in SmarterMail Antispam as URIBLs. To do this in SM 15x or below, do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Security then Antispam Administration.
Click the Add URIBL button at the top of the screen and a box will pop open.
For the Name and Description fields, you can use any name that you like. For example, SORBS, SPAMCOP, etc...
For the Weight field, use the specified weight for each test in the list below.
For the Max Weight field, use the same value as the weight field
For the Hostname field, use the specified hostname for each test in the list below.
For the Required Lookup Value field, use the IP addresses specified for each test in the list below (if you see a *, use the * instead of an IP).
Be sure to put a check in the Enabled box next to the Required Lookup Value field.
Click Save and the box will close.
You will now see your added RBL in the list of tests.
Be sure to put a check in the Enable for Filtering box to the right of the new test.
Click Save again on the upper left hand side of the screen.

The following tests should be set up in SmarterMail Antispam as URIBLs. To do this in SM 16x and 17x do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Settings then Antispam.
Click URIBL Lists.
Click New and a box will pop up.
For the Name and Description fields, you can use any name that you like. For example, SORBS, SPAMCOP, etc...
For the Weight field, use the specified weight for each test in the list below.
For the Max Weight field, use the same value as the weight field
For the Hostname field, use the specified hostname for each test in the list below.
For the Required Lookup Value field, use the IP addresses specified for each test in the list below (if you see a *, use the * instead of an IP).
Be sure to slide the slider to the right in the area next to the Required Lookup Value field so that it is enabled.
Next, slide the Enable for Spool Filtering slider to the right to enable it for filtering.

SURBL8	multi.surbl.org	127.0.0.8 - weight of 15
SURBL16	multi.surbl.org	127.0.0.16 - weight of 15
SURBL64	multi.surbl.org	127.0.0.64 - weight of 15
SURBL128	multi.surbl.org	127.0.0.128 - weight of 15
DNSBL	in.dnsbl.org	127.0.0.2 - weight of 2
SEM-URIBL	uribl.spameatingmonkey.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 10
SEM-URIRED	urired.spameatingmonkey.net	127.0.0.2 - weight of 5
URIBL-RED	multi.uribl.com	127.0.0.8 - weight of 5
URIBL-BLACK	multi.uribl.com	127.0.0.2 - weight of 20
URIBL-GREY	multi.uribl.com	127.0.0.4 - weight of 5

We also suggest that you enable the below tests for Incoming SMTP Blocking.
To do this in SM 15x or below do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Security then Antispam Administration.
Put a check in the boxes under the Enable for Imcoming SMTP Blocking column for the tests you want to use.
Click Save on the upper left hand side of the screen.

To do this in SM 16x and 17x do the following...

Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Settings then Antispam.
Click RBL List.
Double-click the test you want to use and slide the slider to the right for Enable Incoming SMTP Blocking.
Click Save.

NOTE*** We do realize that only one weight can be specified per test. Since this is the case, we suggest that you use weight 10 for all of the tests below (use weight 30 for GBUDB) if you are going to use them for both Filtering and Incoming SMTP Blocking

BARRACUDA – weight of 10

ANY/ALL SORBS – weight of 10

SPAMCOP – weight of 10

ZEN – weight of 10

GBUDB – weight of 30

HOSTKARMA-BLACK – weight of 10

MAILSPIKE – weight of 10

MCAFEE – weight of 10

SURRIEL – weight of 10

Once you choose which tests you would like to use for Incoming SMTP Blocking, please do the following...

For SM 15x and Below...
Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Security then Antispam Administration.
Click the SMTP Blocking tab.
Put a check in the Incoming Weight Threshold box.
Use weight 30.
Click Save

For SM 16x and 17x...
Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Settings.
Find the SMTP Blocking box on the right.
Slide the slider for Incoming Weight Threshold to the right to enable it.
Use weight 30.
Click Save

Set Auto-Responders to Require Message Pass SPF if SPF record exists. Set Content Filter Bouncing to Disabled.

For SM 15x and Below...
Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Security then Antispam Administration.
Click the Options tab.
Choose Require Message Pass SPF if SPF record exists from the Auto-Responder drop-down box.
Choose Disabled from the Content Filter Bouncing drop-down box.
Click Save

For SM 16x and 17x...
Log into the SmarterMail Admin Interface.
Click Settings.
Find the Options box on the right.
Choose Require Message Pass SPF if SPF record exists from the Auto-Responder drop-down box.
Choose Disabled from the Content Filter Bouncing drop-down box.
Click Save

Our recommended weights and actions thresholds for spam probabilities are as follows:

Low Probability of Spam: weight 10 - Take No Action
Medium Probability of Spam: weight 14 - Move to Junk E-Mail Folder
High Probability of Spam: weight 30 - Delete Message