What are Blacklisted IP and Domain Lists?

Blacklisted IP and domain lists, also known as blocklists or blacklists, are collections of IP addresses and domain names that are known to be involved in malicious activities such as spamming, phishing, malware distribution, and other forms of cybercrime. These lists are maintained by various organizations and are used by network administrators, email service providers, and security systems to prevent communication with these harmful sources, thereby enhancing the security of networks and systems.

Main Blacklisted IP and Domain Lists

Here are some of the most commonly used and reputable blacklisted IP and domain lists:

1. Spamhaus

Spamhaus ZEN: Combines multiple blocklists (SBL, XBL, PBL).
Spamhaus DBL: Lists domains associated with spam and malware.
Spamhaus ZEN - spamhaus.org/zen/
Spamhaus DBL - spamhaus.org/dbl/

2. SURBL

Lists domains that appear in spam messages.
SURBL - surbl.org/

3. SpamCop

Provides a list of IP addresses involved in sending spam.
SpamCop Blocking List - spamcop.net/bl.shtml

4. Barracuda

Maintains a reputation block list of IP addresses.
Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) - barracudacentral.org/rbl

5. Project Honey Pot

Tracks and lists spammers and other email abusers.
Project Honey Pot - projecthoneypot.org/

6. UCEPROTECT

Provides three levels of protection based on IP addresses, subnets, and ISPs.
UCEPROTECT Network - uceprotect.net/

7. SORBS

Offers various blocklists including spam, open relays, and dynamic IP addresses.
SORBS - sorbs.net/

8. Invaluement

Lists IP addresses and domains involved in spam and abuse.
Invaluement - invaluement.com/

9. NJABL

Tracks IP addresses associated with spam, open relays, and proxies.
NJABL - njabl.org/

10. URIBL

Lists domains found in unsolicited emails.
URIBL - uribl.com/

11. Mailspike

Maintains lists of IPs and domains associated with malicious activities.
Mailspike - mailspike.org/

12. Cisco Talos Intelligence

Offers comprehensive threat intelligence, including IP and domain reputations.
Cisco Talos Intelligence - talosintelligence.com/

13. Emerging Threats

Provides IP and domain lists associated with various cyber threats.
Emerging Threats - rules.emergingthreats.net/

14. FireHOL

Aggregates various IP lists to block malicious activity.
FireHOL IP Lists - iplists.firehol.org/

How to Remove IPs and Domains from Blacklists

If your IP or domain has been listed on any of these blacklists, follow the steps below to remove it:

Identify the Blacklist

Determine which blacklist your IP or domain is listed on. This can be done using online blacklist check tools or by reviewing notifications from email services or hosting providers.
Verify the Reason

Understand the reason for the listing. This could be due to sending spam, security issues on your server, or other unintentional malicious behavior.
Resolve the Underlying Issue

If the reason is spam, check your email system for compromised accounts or incorrect configurations.
If it's due to security issues like malware, clean your system and fix vulnerabilities.
Request Removal

Contact the organization maintaining the blacklist and request removal. Provide evidence that the issue has been resolved, such as clean email logs or security scan reports.
Monitor the Status

After requesting removal, monitor the status of your IP or domain to ensure it has been delisted. This process may take some time depending on the organization.

List of Sites Where You Can Request Blacklist Removal

Spamhaus: Removal Request - spamhaus.org/lookup/
SURBL: Contact - surbl.org/contact
SpamCop: Removal Form - spamcop.net/fom-serve/cache/397.html
Barracuda: Removal Form - barracudacentral.org/rbl/removal-request
Project Honey Pot: Contact - projecthoneypot.org/contact_us.php
UCEPROTECT: IP Removal - uceprotect.net/en/rblcheck.php
SORBS: Removal Form - sorbs.net/lookup.shtml
Invaluement: Contact - invaluement.com/contact/
NJABL: Contact - njabl.org/
URIBL: Removal Form - uribl.com/?section=contact
Mailspike: Contact - mailspike.org/contact.html
Cisco Talos Intelligence: Contact Form - talosintelligence.com/reputation_center/support
Emerging Threats: Contact - rules.emergingthreats.net/open-nogpl/contact/
FireHOL: Contact - iplists.firehol.org/