What should I do if my website is on a Fastly IP range listed on Spamhaus but I don't send email from that IP?

Summary

If your website is hosted on a Fastly IP range listed on Spamhaus, but you don't send email from that IP, the primary concern shifts from email deliverability to website accessibility and reputation. Experts and documentation suggest the root cause might not be your direct activity but the shared IP nature of CDNs like Fastly, where other users' actions can affect the entire IP range. While direct email deliverability might be unaffected, website accessibility for some users could be impacted. A crucial step is to ensure your own website's security and content are not triggering blacklists. Monitor website traffic and loading speeds. If the listing significantly impacts website performance or accessibility, consider contacting your hosting provider, exploring alternative CDNs, or migrating to a different IP address. Verifying the validity and security of your DNS records, including preventing open resolvers, is also essential. Remember to investigate to see if the spamhaus listing is causing issues, or if there are other possible issues causing hard bounces or other issues.

Key findings

  • Indirect Email Impact: While direct email deliverability might be unaffected, the Spamhaus listing can still affect other parts of your business
  • Impact on Website Access: If you aren't sending email, a Spamhaus listing might affect website access for some users.
  • Shared IP Reputation: CDNs use shared IP ranges, so the actions of other users can affect your IP's reputation.
  • Proactive Security: Ensuring you protect your website, and use a WAF can stop your site from getting onto blacklists.
  • It May Not Be Spamhaus: Be sure to investigate and ensure that the spamhaus listing is in fact causing your issues, or if there are other causes.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Website Performance: Continuously monitor website traffic, loading speeds, and accessibility to identify any negative impacts from the listing.
  • Investigate Spamhaus Listing: Contact Spamhaus to understand the specific reasons for the listing and any steps you can take to help resolve the issue (though direct action might be limited).
  • Contact Hosting Provider: Contact your hosting provider to investigate the issue and potentially migrate your website to a different IP address.
  • Evaluate Alternative CDNs: If the listing significantly impacts website performance, explore alternative CDN providers.
  • Secure Your Website: Implement robust security measures to protect your website from malware and hacking attempts.
  • Contact Correct Party: Contact the provider of the shared IP if they are responsible for it.
  • Check DNS settings: Validate that you DNS settings, including preventing open resolvers

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

If your website is hosted on a Fastly IP range listed on Spamhaus, but you don't send email from that IP, the primary concern shifts from email deliverability to website accessibility and reputation. The shared IP nature of CDNs like Fastly means that the actions of other users can impact your IP's reputation. Therefore, you should focus on ensuring your own website's security and content are not triggering blacklists. Monitoring website traffic and loading speeds is crucial. If the listing significantly impacts website performance or accessibility, consider contacting your hosting provider, exploring alternative CDNs, or migrating to a different IP address. Additionally, verify that DNS records are valid and secure and that no open resolvers are running.

Key opinions

  • Limited Direct Email Impact: Spamhaus listing of a Fastly IP range primarily impacts website accessibility, not email deliverability, if you don't send email from that IP.
  • Shared IP Reputation: CDNs use shared IP ranges, so the actions of other users can affect your IP's reputation.
  • Website Accessibility Risk: The primary concern is the potential negative impact on website loading speeds and accessibility for some users.
  • DNS Importance: Ensure DNS records are valid and secure. Check if you are running an open resolver.
  • Security: Website being listed can lead to security compromises, install WAF to prevent malicious activity.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Website Performance: Continuously monitor website traffic, loading speeds, and accessibility to identify any negative impacts from the listing.
  • Investigate Spamhaus Listing: Contact Spamhaus to understand the specific reasons for the listing and any steps you can take to help resolve the issue (though direct action might be limited).
  • Contact Hosting Provider: Contact your hosting provider to investigate the issue and potentially migrate your website to a different IP address.
  • Evaluate Alternative CDNs: If the listing significantly impacts website performance, explore alternative CDN providers.
  • Ensure website content is clean: Ensure that your website content is clean and that you are using a WAF to protect yourself.
Marketer view

Email marketer from DNSTool explains to check your DNS records and ensure that they are valid. Ensure that you are not running an open resolver which can get the IP listed and cause related issues.

July 2023 - DNS Tool
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora shares that Check if your website is also listed in other blacklists. Implement security measures like a WAF (Web Application Firewall) to prevent malicious activity that might affect your website's reputation.

July 2023 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailService.com explains that if you use a third-party email provider, ensure they are aware of the Spamhaus listing and are taking steps to mitigate its impact. While it shouldn't directly affect you if you're not sending email from that IP, it could potentially affect your email provider's overall deliverability.

May 2023 - EmailService.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Cloudflare Community shares that using a CDN like Cloudflare or Fastly means sharing IPs. If one user abuses the service, it can affect the reputation of the entire IP range. If you aren't sending mail, focus on ensuring your website content is clean and doesn't trigger other blacklists.

May 2024 - Cloudflare Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that CDN IP blacklisting is a common issue. If you're not sending email, it shouldn't directly impact email deliverability. However, it could affect website loading speeds or accessibility for some users. Monitor these metrics and consider a different CDN provider if the impact is significant.

March 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Web Hosting Talk forum responds that Shared hosting environments often face blacklisting issues due to other users' activities. If you're only hosting a website and not sending email, the direct impact is on website accessibility. Recommend contacting your hosting provider and asking them to investigate and potentially migrate you to a different IP address.

November 2024 - Web Hosting Talk
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass Blog shares that since email deliverability is separate from static content delivery, the CDN spamhaus listing will affect the ability of other websites and services being served from the same CDN but should not directly affect email sending. Check if your email is affected using deliverability tools.

July 2021 - Gmass Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange responds that if you're not sending email from the affected IP, the primary concern is website accessibility. Monitor your website traffic and consider alternative CDNs or hosting if the listing significantly impacts user access. Contact Spamhaus to understand the specific listing reason and if there's anything you can do to help resolve it.

February 2024 - StackExchange

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

If your website resides on a Fastly IP range listed on Spamhaus, but you do not send email from that IP, the primary concern shifts to potential impacts on website accessibility and reputation, rather than email deliverability. While the listing might not directly affect email sending, it could indicate broader issues, such as the IP range being used for malware distribution. If you experience issues, first investigate whether it is two separate issues rather than just the spamhaus listing. Check who to contact depending on listing including contacting your hosting provider, isolating to a dedicated IP, and potentially migrating away from your current host or CDN. Actively monitor hard bounces and website traffic and speeds to isolate any issues.

Key opinions

  • Limited Direct Impact: If you don't send email from the listed IP, the direct impact on email deliverability is limited.
  • Website Accessibility is Key: The primary concern is website accessibility, as some networks might block access to websites hosted on the listed IP range.
  • Shared IP Responsibility: Shared IP spaces mean you may not have direct control over the IP's reputation. Actions of others can impact you.
  • Potential Malware Indication: The listing could indicate that the IP range is being used for malware distribution, even if you're not directly involved.

Key considerations

  • Investigate the Listing: Determine the specific reason for the Spamhaus listing and who is responsible.
  • Contact Hosting Provider: Contact your hosting provider to investigate and potentially migrate to a different IP range.
  • Consider Alternative Hosting: Explore alternatives to GitHub hosting or your current CDN if the listing significantly impacts your website.
  • Monitor for Hard Bounces and Traffic: Actively monitor website traffic and hard bounces to detect any adverse effects.
  • Isolate Issues: Determine that any issues experienced are due to spamhaus listing, and not another issue.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks questions if the hard bounces are indeed due to the Spamhaus listing, noting that the listing has been active for almost a month and the IP in the bounce message is different, indicating it could be a separate issue.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Experts from Email Geeks confirm there is nothing to do regarding the Fastly+Spamhaus listing of the /24 the site is on.

April 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests considering moving from GitHub hosting in the future for more functionality, but not specifically due to the Spamhaus listing, as many high-traffic hosting sites use Fastly as their CDN.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the listed IP address belongs to a Fastly range used for malware distribution, and Fastly is ignoring reports. He suggests that since the user isn't sending mail or doing outbound traffic from that IP, the listing shouldn't affect them much.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that if you're on a shared IP range that's listed, and you're not sending email, the issue isn't *your* email, but your website. Some networks may block access to websites hosted on those IPs. Contact your hosting provider and consider moving to a different IP range.

October 2022 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that if you’re on a shared IP space with email being sent from the IP you can’t necessarily get it removed if you don’t have control over that mail. The first step is to figure out what the listing is and who's responsible, then reach out to them to have them remedy the listing. If there are deliverability issues, you can isolate your account with a dedicated IP.

June 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

If your website is on a Fastly IP range listed on Spamhaus but you do not send email from that IP, the documentation highlights the importance of understanding that you may not be the source of the problem due to shared IP ranges. Website access for some users may be impacted. Focus on ensuring your specific usage doesn't contribute to abuse and securing your website to prevent malware and hacking attempts, which can lead to IP blacklisting. A proper reverse DNS setup is also important. Contact the provider of the IP.

Key findings

  • Not Always Your Fault: A listing doesn't always mean you are the source of the problem; it could be a shared IP range.
  • Impact on Website Access: If you aren't sending email, a Spamhaus listing might affect website access for some users.
  • Shared Infrastructure: Shared infrastructure means occasional listings are unavoidable, according to Fastly.
  • Website Security is Key: A compromised website can be used for malicious activities that lead to IP blacklisting.
  • Contact the correct provider: Contact the provider of the IP range.

Key considerations

  • Ensure Responsible Usage: Focus on ensuring your specific usage doesn't contribute to abuse.
  • Secure Your Website: Secure your website to prevent malware and hacking attempts.
  • Check DNS Records: Ensure your DNS records are correctly configured, including reverse DNS.
  • Contact Support: Contact Fastly support if you believe the listing is impacting your services.
Technical article

Documentation from DigitalOcean explains the importance of a proper reverse DNS setup. Although this is more relevant for mail servers, ensure your DNS records are correctly configured, as incorrect DNS settings can sometimes contribute to reputation issues, even if you're not sending mail from the listed IP.

June 2021 - DigitalOcean.com
Technical article

Documentation from Google Search Central emphasizes securing your website to prevent malware and hacking attempts. Even if you're not sending email, a compromised website can be used for malicious activities that lead to IP blacklisting.

February 2022 - Google Search Central
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus.org explains that depending on who owns the IP range or how the IP is being listed, will determine who you need to contact to address the issue. If it is a shared IP address, this would be the provider of the IP.

August 2024 - Spamhaus.org
Technical article

Documentation from Fastly.com explains that while they monitor IP reputation, shared infrastructure means occasional listings are unavoidable. They recommend focusing on ensuring your specific usage doesn't contribute to abuse and contacting their support if you believe the listing is impacting your services.

June 2021 - Fastly.com
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus.org explains that a listing doesn't always mean you are the source of the problem. It could be a shared IP range or a compromised server. If you aren't sending email, it might not directly affect your mail sending but could affect website access for some users.

November 2023 - Spamhaus.org