InterServer DNS-based Blackhole List

How Does it work?

This DNSBL checks multiple spam traps and blocks the IPs of the sender to those email addresses.

What is a spam trap?

A spam trap is an email address used to identify spam mail. These email addresses do not recieve any valid email. Any email coming to these addresses are unsolicted and blocked automatically.

How long is an IP blacklisted?

The default is 5 days. After that the ip is delisted. IPs which have been listed more than 4 times in a given month will be listed an additional 30 days.

What if my IP is black listed?

The best option is to wait for the automatic 5 day delisting. To request removal please use the removal request form listed at http://rbl.interserver.net/delisting.php. Filling out the removal form in no way guarantees an IP address will be removed any sooner. If you are not the IP owner please contact your ISP for removal.

Why can't I view the actual SPAM content

We only provide the date listed and Subject line in an IP lookup. This is done in order to keep our spam trap email addresses secret. Only authorized users can view the actual email body.

But I am not a spammer!

All email listed here has been sent to a spam trap which no valid email should be sent to.

What is the philosophy of this spam database?

Our philosophy is that no email server should be listed in a spam database forever. Spammers hack servers, exploit scripts (ie formmail scripts) and just generally do bad things. We believe that most servers sending spam at any given moment is temporary and once the ISP recieves abuse complaints the spam will stop. This is why we by default block an IP address for 5 days then delist it. A 5 day limit is ample time to receive, correct and respond to any abuse complaints. There are of course the servers which are specifically designed for spam. Repeat listing will increase an IP's listing in our database. We feel this is the most efficiant efficient method to reduce SPAM.