Why are IPs/domains suddenly entering the Spamhaus blacklist?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from EmailProviderHelp.com responds that another common reason for sudden blacklisting is a compromised email account. If a hacker gains access to your account, they can use it to send large volumes of spam, leading to immediate blacklisting. Always use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that they are experiencing DBL and CSS listings for a client and the ticket response for DBL provided no help.
Email marketer from Reddit explains a sudden increase in email volume or a change in sending patterns can trigger Spamhaus's filters, especially if the content is similar to known spam. Additionally, poor email list hygiene, such as sending to invalid or inactive email addresses, can increase bounce rates, which can negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to blacklisting.
Email marketer from senderok.org shares that poor email list quality, including high bounce rates and spam complaints, can lead to blacklisting. Regularly clean your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses and implement a double opt-in process to ensure that subscribers are genuinely interested in receiving your emails.
Email marketer from GreenNet responds there are several reasons why IP addresses and/or domains get listed on the Spamhaus Block List (SBL). Typically the listed IP address or domain has been associated with spam activity, such as sending unsolicited emails, hosting phishing websites, or distributing malware. Even if you're not directly involved in these activities, your IP or domain could be listed if your systems are compromised or if you share resources with spammers.
Email marketer from DNSProvider.com shares that if you're on a shared hosting environment, the actions of other users on the same server can impact your reputation. If one user engages in spam activity, the entire server's IP address can be blacklisted, affecting all users on that server.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains there was a hardware outage that caused a change. They have put mitigations in place, and impacted IPs and domains have been removed or are in the process of being removed.
Email marketer from SmallBusinessForum.org responds that sudden blacklisting can also occur if you recently changed your email marketing practices. For example, if you switched to a new email marketing platform or started sending emails from a new IP address, it could trigger spam filters.
Email marketer from emailblacklistcheck.com responds that negative IP reputation is a common reason for blacklisting. Your IP address has a history of sending spam emails or has been involved in other malicious activities, it can be blacklisted by various organizations.
Email marketer from StackExchange responds that a possible reason is that Spamhaus uses a combination of automated systems and manual reports to maintain their blacklists. Sudden listings can occur if automated systems detect a significant spike in spam-like activity from your IP or domain, or if a spam trap is hit.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise details that to prevent blacklisting, you should ensure your systems are secure, use strong passwords, and regularly monitor your network for suspicious activity. Employing email authentication standards such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can help to verify the authenticity of your emails and prevent spoofing.
Expert from Spam Resource responds that to avoid blacklisting, it's essential to understand the various factors that can impact your sender reputation. This includes monitoring your IP address and domain for blacklisting, implementing proper email authentication, and following best practices for email list management. Regularly cleaning your email list and engaging with your subscribers can also help to maintain a positive sender reputation.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that sudden blacklisting can be caused by sending email to spam traps, which are email addresses that are specifically set up to catch spammers. Hitting these spam traps indicates that you are not properly managing your email list or following best practices for email marketing.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Spamhaus explains the Domain Block List (DBL) is a real-time database of domain names found in spam emails. Listing in the DBL indicates that the domain has been associated with spam activity. Domains can be listed for various reasons, including being directly involved in sending spam, hosting content promoted in spam, or being compromised and used by spammers.
Documentation from Spamhaus explains the Exploits Block List (XBL) is a list of IP addresses which are infected by trojans, worms and viruses, and are sending spam or other malicious email traffic. It is a subset of the Spamhaus Composite Blocking List (SBL).
Documentation from MultiRBL responds that many blacklists are now using more sophisticated methods of identifying and blocking spam. These methods can include analyzing the content of your emails, the structure of your headers, and the behavior of your sending systems. If your emails trigger any of these filters, you could be blacklisted.
Documentation from Spamhaus details that the Spamhaus Block List (SBL) is a real-time database of IP addresses involved in spam activity. IP addresses can be listed due to direct spamming, operating compromised systems, or being part of a network with known spam sources. The SBL helps email providers block spam and protect their users.