Blacklists Compared

2 April 2011

[ Fighting Spam | Dialup Zones | Blacklists Compared | Current Blacklist Comparison | Sendmail Configuration ]

Survey results for all known public IP-based DNS blacklists. Lookups were done on connecting IP addresses. The "union of most IP zones" line excludes the hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (all results but 127.0.0.2, 127.0.0.3, and 127.0.0.4), exemptions.ahbl.org, query.bondedsender.org, list.dnswl.org, accredit.habeas.com, iadb.isipp.com, iadb2.isipp.com, swl.spamhaus.org, and wl.mailspike.net zones because they are not blacklists. Because they are too aggressive to be widely useful the spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net and l2.apews.org zones are also excluded from the union.

HitsDNS Zone
43724(total number of IP addresses tested, including 150 at SDSC)
40021(union of most IP zones)
31152b.barracudacentral.org
30680l2.apews.org
29602zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
28003cbl.abuseat.org
27976zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
25754hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
22227bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
20912dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
19926zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
17526dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
17506dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
17442hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17434bl.tiopan.com
16136spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
15709bl.spameatingmonkey.net
15168blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
14925dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
12732psbl.surriel.com
12180ddnsbl.internetdefensesystems.com
11230bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
10970dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
10382bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
8397blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
7626bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
6010db.wpbl.info
5602list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5593bl.spamcop.net
5351blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
5187ubl.unsubscore.com
4525no-more-funn.moensted.dk (union of all results)
4287hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
4287wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
4018dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
3570hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
3279ips.backscatterer.org
3006bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
2704ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
2605wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2528dnsbl.inps.de
2435zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
2338no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
2269hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2005dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
1970no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.3 = dialup)
1670wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1390blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1342hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1341korea.services.net
1286mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
1179spamsources.fabel.dk
1171bl.spamcannibal.org
803l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
599accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
537zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
537zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
530query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
367dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
350aspews.ext.sorbs.net
276dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
270bl.score.senderscore.com
268tr.countries.nerd.dk
221iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
219l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
197iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
131dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
127hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
92no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
83no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.10 = open proxy)
70dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
57dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
54no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.7 = spam haven)
38dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
34dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
31tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
31tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
29blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
23dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
17swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
12wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
12bl.deadbeef.com
9swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
8swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
6zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.5 = time-expired NJABL open proxy)
5multi.surbl.org
2dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
2spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.7 = spam source netblock)
2hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
1blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.11 = TCPA violator)
Survey results for all known public domain-name-based DNS blacklists. Lookups were done on the domain names of connecting IP addresses. The "union of most domain zones" line includes data from the hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com zone only when the results are 127.0.0.2, 127.0.0.3, or 127.0.0.4 because other results are not blacklists.

HitsDNS Zone
43724(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 150 at SDSC)
24659hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
21427hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
16511(union of most domain zones)
13572abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
10982l1.apews.org
6037whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
4902whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3872hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
3126hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1136whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
920hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
452hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
348hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
246dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
246dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
217urired.spameatingmonkey.net
119hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
63hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
61postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
58hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
47bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
47dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
41multi.surbl.org
39fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
28dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
26rhsbl.ahbl.org
15multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
15multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
5bl.deadbeef.com
Survey results for all known public domain-name-based DNS blacklists. Lookups were done on SMTP sender domains. The "union of most domain zones" line includes data from the hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com zone only when the results are 127.0.0.2, 127.0.0.3, or 127.0.0.4 because other results are not blacklists.

HitsDNS Zone
27939(total number of domains tested, including 122 at SDSC)
16086hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
7976(union of most domain zones)
7324hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
4324hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2826whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
2669whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
2570hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2416dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
2416dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
2164hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1574abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1114fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
850urired.spameatingmonkey.net
843postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
653l1.apews.org
570hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
410bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
368hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
362multi.surbl.org
349multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
341multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
283dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
157whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
87dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
84hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
19rhsbl.ahbl.org
9hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
8hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
7multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
1bl.deadbeef.com
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 4 April 2011.