Is my IP address blacklisted?
Learn what happens if your IP address is put on a blacklist, and what you can do to get it taken off.
What does blacklist mean?
Blacklists are registers of email or IP addresses that have been penalised for sending spam. Most providers use public blacklists to help limit the amount of spam being sent on their networks by blocking IP addresses that appear to be engaging in malicious activities. To protect users from these kinds of attacks, we set rules in the server software or the Hub that recognise this kind of malicious behaviour. When malicious behaviour (like a spam attack) is recognised, the email or IP address sending the mail is added to a blacklist and prevented from connecting to the server until the issue can be resolved.
Why is my IP address blacklisted?
If your IP address has been blacklisted, it means a device on your network has been sending spam mail. Don’t worry, it’s not likely to have been you. However, it does mean one of your devices or you network might have a virus.
If your IP address is blacklisted, any emails you send will bounce back until you’re removed from the blacklist. That means you won’t be able to contact anyone by email until you’re able to resolve the issue.
If you’re just an individual, being blacklisted could be very inconvenient. It’ll mean you can’t answer any emails, or contact anyone using your email account. This can be very annoying if you need to reply about an interview or if you’re trying to send back a recent purchase.
If your company’s account has been blocked and you rely on marketing emails to grow your customer base, this can be very damaging. This can lead to a reduction in business until you can get the issue fixed.
If you’ve sent emails to a number of different addresses and they’ve bounced or been rejected, then it’s worth checking if your IP address has been blacklisted. If it has, you’ll want to resolve the issue as soon as you can.
How to check if IP is blacklisted
You can check if your IP address is blacklisted online using a blacklist checker tool. Simply enter your IP address or domain name. There are a number of different blacklists you could be listed on. If your IP address has been blacklisted, the tool will show you which blacklist you’re on. If you are a Virgin Media customer, you’ll have a dynamic IP address. That means you’ll likely be on one of the following blacklists:
Spamhaus ZEN
SORBS DUHL
Protected Sky
If your IP address is on any other blacklist not listed above, then you likely have a security issue on your home network. Spam emails are likely to have been sent from a device on your home network (such as a computer, phone or tablet) that has been infected with malware.
How to remove IP from blacklist
First, you’ll want to resolve any security issues on your devices. You can do that by running a virus check. If you don’t have an internet security service already, you can try Virgin Media Advanced Security. You’ll get your first 3 months free, then it’s just £3 a month. If you have an existing security package installed, check out the instructions to find out how to remove infections from your device. You should also update your software and make sure your network is protected by a firewall. Learn how to improve your online security. If it’s your company email that’s been blocked and you’ve been running marketing email campaigns, you should also make sure the messages follow best practice. Always have unsubscribe links in emails and make sure that all recipients have signed up to receive marketing mail from you.
How long does a person stay blacklisted?
You’ll be kept on the blacklist until you can fix any security issues on your device. When spam emails stop being sent from your IP address, you should be automatically removed from the blacklist within a couple of days. Alternatively, you can contact the blacklist directly and ask them to remove it for you. This might speed up the process a little. If it’s your company email that’s been blocked, remember to make sure your marketing messages follow best practice. Always provide unsubscribe links and make sure that only recipients who have signed up to your mailing list receive marketing updates. This should prevent you from being added to the blacklist again.