How impactful are Abusix blacklisted IPs from a shared IP pool?

Summary

Being blacklisted by Abusix, especially when using a shared IP pool, can significantly harm email deliverability. Although Abusix was initially an identifier of problems rather than a blocker, its data is now increasingly used for blocking. Shared IPs are inherently risky because the sender's reputation is linked to the practices of other users on the same IP. A listing indicates a higher likelihood of sending spam or malicious content, severely impacting sender reputation across multiple ISPs and potentially leading to a drop in inbox placement rates. It is crucial to investigate the root cause of the listing immediately, closely monitor IP reputation, and be proactive in addressing any listing issues to minimize deliverability disruptions. The impact scales with the severity of the listing and how widely Abusix data is used by recipient mail servers.

Key findings

  • Significant Impact: Abusix blacklisting, especially on shared IPs, severely impacts email deliverability.
  • Reputation Risk: Shared IPs carry the risk of one user's actions impacting the entire IP's reputation.
  • Legitimate Data: Abusix's traps are considered legitimate and are based on real data.
  • Proactive Blocking: Admins are increasingly using Abusix data to proactively block emails.

Key considerations

  • Investigate Immediately: Immediately investigate the root cause of any Abusix blacklisting.
  • Monitor Reputation: Continuously monitor IP reputation and blacklist status.
  • Implement Vigilance: Shared IP users must exercise heightened vigilance over their sending practices.
  • Severity of Listing: The impact scales with the severity of the listing and its widespread usage.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Being blacklisted by Abusix, particularly on a shared IP, can significantly impact email deliverability. While Abusix was initially an identifier of issues, its data is increasingly used for blocking. Shared IPs are risky because the sender's reputation is linked to other users. A listing indicates a higher likelihood of spam, impacting sender reputation across ISPs and potentially leading to a drop in inbox placement rates. It's crucial to investigate the root cause, monitor IP reputation, and be proactive in addressing listing issues.

Key opinions

  • Abusix Impact: Abusix listings are increasingly used for blocking, not just identification.
  • Shared IP Risk: Shared IPs make senders vulnerable to the actions of others.
  • Deliverability Effect: Blacklisting can severely impact deliverability and inbox placement.
  • Monitoring Importance: Constant monitoring of IP reputation and blacklists is essential.

Key considerations

  • Root Cause Analysis: Immediately investigate the reason for the blacklisting.
  • Proactive Action: Address listing issues promptly to minimize deliverability disruptions.
  • Shared IP Vigilance: Shared IP users must carefully monitor their sending practices.
  • Bounce Handling: Ensure bounce handling is correctly setup.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that consistent monitoring of IP reputation and blacklists is essential. Being proactive in addressing listing issues can minimize deliverability disruptions and maintain a healthy sender reputation.

November 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass notes that shared IP users should carefully monitor their sending practices. A single user sending unwanted emails can quickly damage the entire IP's reputation, leading to widespread deliverability problems.

May 2021 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks says they manually blocked the range and they were seeing multiple issues and bounce handling was broken.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks said they remember using Abusix data as an additional data point to a customer in the past.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperOffice shares that using shared IP addresses necessitates heightened vigilance over email sending habits. Any blacklisting of the shared IP could jeopardize deliverability for all associated users.

March 2024 - SuperOffice
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that shared IPs can be risky because the sender's reputation is linked to other users' practices. If one user engages in spammy behavior, it can impact the deliverability of all users on that IP.

January 2025 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Vendor Guide shares that a listing on a major blacklist like Abusix can have a significant impact on email deliverability, with many ISPs and email providers using these lists to filter out potentially harmful emails. It can lead to a drop in inbox placement rates.

July 2024 - Email Vendor Guide
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange suggests that if a shared IP is blacklisted, it's crucial to investigate the root cause immediately. It may be due to other users on the same IP pool sending spam, which requires prompt action to avoid widespread deliverability issues.

June 2022 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that an Abusix listing, particularly for a shared IP, indicates a higher likelihood of sending spam or malicious content, severely impacting deliverability and sender reputation across multiple ISPs.

October 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that Abusix had typically been an identifier of a problem and not a blocker. Suggests they still consider themselves in that range but admins are changing their usage of Abusix data to issue blocks.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid discusses the potential risks associated with shared IPs, emphasizing that the actions of other users on the same IP can significantly impact your deliverability. Monitoring is essential to avoid being affected by others' poor sending practices.

June 2024 - SendGrid

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts agree that Abusix blacklisted IPs can severely impact email deliverability, especially on shared IP pools. The impact depends on how widely Abusix data is used by receiving mail servers and the severity of the listing. The underlying cause of the listing should be addressed immediately, as a listing indicates problematic behavior from the IP address.

Key opinions

  • Deliverability Impact: Abusix blacklist has a significant negative impact on email deliverability, particularly for shared IPs.
  • Legitimacy of Traps: Abusix traps are considered legitimate and based on real data.
  • Severity Matters: The extent of the impact depends on the severity of the listing and how often the blacklist is checked.

Key considerations

  • Immediate Action: Address the underlying cause of the blacklisting immediately.
  • RBL Usage: Consider how widely the RBL is used by recipient mail servers.
  • Monitor Reputation: Monitor IP reputation regularly to identify and resolve blacklisting issues.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that RBLs, including those like Abusix, significantly affect deliverability. A listing indicates that the IP has exhibited behavior flagged as problematic. The effect on deliverability depends on how often the RBL is checked by receiving mail servers and the severity of the behavior that caused the listing.

March 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that being on the Abusix blacklist can severely impact email deliverability, particularly if using a shared IP pool. The impact scales with the severity of the listing and how widely Abusix data is used by recipient mail servers. It is critical to address the underlying cause of the listing immediately.

October 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recalls that the Abusix traps are legit, based on sampling their data about a year ago.

April 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

According to documentation, being blacklisted by Abusix, which identifies compromised hosts and abusive behavior, significantly impacts email deliverability. This is due to deliverability issues arising with providers using Abusix data. Being on multiple RBLs amplifies the negative impact, and maintaining a positive sender reputation is critical, as blacklists indicate reputation issues. Proactive threat intelligence data filters abusive emails.

Key findings

  • Abusive Activity: Abusix blacklist identifies compromised hosts and abusive behavior.
  • Deliverability Issues: Listing on Abusix or other RBLs leads to deliverability problems.
  • Reputation Importance: Maintaining a positive sender reputation is crucial for email delivery.
  • Multiple Listings: Listing on multiple RBLs amplifies the negative impact.

Key considerations

  • Immediate Resolution: Address reputation issues indicated by blacklists promptly.
  • Proactive Approach: Implement proactive threat intelligence measures.
  • RBL Coverage: Understand which RBLs are used by receiving mail servers.
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that being on a blocklist, especially a reputable one like theirs, indicates a serious problem. While not directly Abusix, it highlights the potential damage from any significant blacklist, including deliverability issues and reputation damage.

May 2024 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from MultiRBL explains that being listed on multiple RBLs simultaneously amplifies the negative impact. Email servers often cross-reference multiple RBLs, so a single IP appearing on several lists suggests a widespread problem and can severely hinder email delivery.

January 2024 - MultiRBL
Technical article

Documentation from Cisco Talos answers that they prioritize identifying and tracking malicious email traffic. While not Abusix specifically, they highlight how proactive threat intelligence data is utilized by many email service providers to help filter abusive emails.

September 2024 - Cisco Talos
Technical article

Documentation from Abusix explains that their blacklist focuses on identifying compromised hosts and abusive behavior. Being listed means detected abusive activity originated from the IP address, which can lead to deliverability issues with providers that use Abusix data.

March 2023 - Abusix Website
Technical article

Documentation from Proofpoint emphasizes that maintaining a positive sender reputation is critical for deliverability. Blacklists like Abusix are indicators of reputation issues that need immediate attention and resolution to prevent long-term deliverability problems.

December 2023 - Proofpoint