Why is my IP address on the Spamhaus CSS list?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that you want to know if there was a problem as you don’t want to get listed again.
Email marketer from kickbox.com explains that if your system has been compromised, it may be sending spam without your knowledge. Run a scan and quarantine anything untoward
Email marketer from Moosend.com shares that a sudden and unnatural increase in sending volume could trigger a Spamhaus CSS listing. Scale slowly to build trust and establish a positive sending reputation.
Email marketer from Reddit recommends implementing monitoring systems to track your IP's reputation, bounce rates, complaint rates, and blocklist status. Proactive monitoring allows you to identify and address issues before they result in a Spamhaus CSS listing.
Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection.com shares that poor sending practices can contribute to being listed on the Spamhaus CSS. These practices include sending unsolicited email, having high complaint rates, sending to invalid email addresses, or failing to properly authenticate your email.
Email marketer from Senderok.com recommends implementing best practices for email deliverability such as using double opt-in, cleaning your email list regularly, authenticating your email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and segmenting your email list to send targeted and relevant content to subscribers.
Email marketer from Mailhardener.com shares that you can check if your IP is on the CSS list using online tools like the Spamhaus Blocklist Removal Center or by performing a DNS query against Spamhaus's DNSBL servers. This helps identify if your IP is actively listed and the potential impact on your email deliverability.
Email marketer from Email Geeks has heard of senders being listed, including the French public health care insurance fund, suggesting there may be surprising listings occurring.
Email marketer from Reddit advises to identify the cause of the listing, secure compromised systems, stop any malicious activity, and then request delisting from Spamhaus. Providing evidence of remediation efforts can expedite the delisting process.
Email marketer from EmailToolTester.com notes that renting or buying email lists is a sure fire way to get on a blacklist such as Spamhaus CSS. It will lead to a high bounce rate and spam complaints.
Email marketer from StackOverflow responds that CSS listing directly correlates to your sending reputation. A poor reputation will greatly reduce delivery rates.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that your IP might be on the Spamhaus CSS list because Spamhaus has detected spam or malicious activity originating from your IP address. This could be due to compromised systems, malware infections, or poor email sending practices.
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of understanding why you're listed and fixing the underlying problem. Jumping immediately to delisting without addressing the cause can lead to relisting.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that there was a message indicating a technical failure, possibly a network outage, caused the Spamhaus CSS listing issue.
Expert from Email Geeks responds that it's possible the Spamhaus CSS listing issue is due to a botched rollout of something new.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that the CSS (Composite Spam Score) list contains IP addresses with a demonstrable history of sending spam, those that are infected with malware or are used for other malicious purposes. Listings can also occur due to compromised machines, open proxies, or botnet activity originating from the IP address.
Documentation from Spamhaus details that being listed on the CSS can result in email being blocked or delivered to the spam folder by ISPs and email providers that utilize the Spamhaus blocklists. This impacts email deliverability and can affect legitimate email communication.
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that the delisting process involves verifying that the issue causing the listing has been resolved. You can request delisting through the Spamhaus Blocklist Removal Center, providing details about the remediation steps taken. Some listings may expire automatically after a certain period if the issue is no longer detected.