Why is my IP listed on DroneBL and how to remove it?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Return Path advises regularly monitoring your sender reputation using tools like Sender Score or Google Postmaster Tools. This helps identify potential issues early and prevent blacklisting.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that SecurityScorecard doesn't currently use third-party data for scoring and is unlikely to use DroneBL over more reputable blocklists.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow shares that one cause for DroneBL listing can be that your host is running an open relay. It's advisable to determine if the server is secured.
Email marketer from MXToolbox explains you can use their tool to check your IP address against multiple blocklists, including DroneBL, to determine if it's listed and the reason for the listing.
Email marketer from GlockApps recommends gradually warming up new IP addresses by starting with small volumes of emails to engaged subscribers. This helps establish a positive sending reputation and avoids triggering blacklists like DroneBL.
Email marketer from SendGrid Support explains that maintaining a clean email list is crucial, as sending to invalid or spam trap addresses can lead to blacklisting. Regularly clean your lists of inactive and invalid emails.
Email marketer from Web Hosting Talk forum shares that if you're on a shared hosting IP, another user's actions might cause the entire IP to be blacklisted. Contacting your hosting provider is essential to resolve the issue.
Email marketer from Reddit advises contacting DroneBL directly for more specific information about the listing and any steps required for removal.
Email marketer from Reddit user recommends checking server logs for unusual activity, running malware scans, and ensuring all software is up to date, to identify compromised systems.
Email marketer from Barracuda Networks emphasizes the importance of securing your email infrastructure to prevent unauthorized access and misuse. This includes using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly patching software vulnerabilities.
Email marketer from Mailchimp shares that Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can improve your sender reputation and reduce the likelihood of being blacklisted. These authentication methods verify that you are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.
What the experts say7Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks advises that you should be able to request delisting from DroneBL. She highlights that because DroneBL primarily lists compromised machines, it's a valid security concern, and the security team's worry is understandable.
Expert from Wordtothewise.com emphasizes the need for meticulous list hygiene practices, including regular validation and removal of invalid or unresponsive email addresses. Poor list hygiene increases the risk of hitting spam traps and being blacklisted.
Expert from Email Geeks points out that the listing category is 'dictionary attack on honeypots'. She suggests examining the security of the MTA machines, but notes the issue might be related to older data rather than a current compromise. Recommends delisting due to how easy it is.
Expert from Wordtothewise.com explains that continuously monitoring your IP and domain reputation is essential for detecting blacklistings early and taking corrective action. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools can provide insights into your sending reputation.
Expert from Spamresource.com shares that setting up and monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) can help identify and address issues that lead to blacklisting. FBLs provide information about spam complaints from recipients, allowing you to remove problematic subscribers.
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that understanding how different blacklists operate, including their listing criteria and delisting procedures, is crucial for addressing DroneBL listings. Not all blacklists are created equal, and their impact on deliverability varies.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that a DroneBL listing isn't always related to spam but often due to an open proxy. In this specific case (IP 205.139.105.170), the listing appears to be caused by sending to bad addresses, specifically honeypots, in Sept 2022.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that it is important to review Spamhaus's criteria for listing to understand what activities might lead to an IP being blacklisted, even if indirectly related to DroneBL. This helps in proactively preventing future listings.
Documentation from DroneBL.org outlines that to remove an IP from DroneBL, you should visit the DroneBL website, look up your IP, and follow the instructions to request delisting. The process may involve verifying ownership of the IP address and ensuring the security issue causing the listing has been resolved.
Documentation from DroneBL.org explains that IPs are listed on DroneBL for various reasons, including being identified as open proxies, IRC drones, spambots, or engaging in brute-force attacks. Listings often indicate compromised machines or systems exhibiting malicious behavior.
Documentation from DroneBL.org details listing categories such as 'Open Proxy', 'HTTP Proxy', 'Brute force attackers', 'Compromised router / gateway'. If your IP has been listed for 'dictionary attack on honeypots' it means the system has sent connection attempts to addresses recognised as honeypots.