Blacklists Compared

11 June 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
50848(total number of IP addresses tested, including 183 at SDSC)
47442(union of most IP zones)
38473b.barracudacentral.org
38421l2.apews.org
37503zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
36192cbl.abuseat.org
36189zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
29987hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
29818bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
27358dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
25253zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
22947dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
22409dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
21184spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
20035bl.tiopan.com
18607bl.spameatingmonkey.net
18405ddnsbl.internetdefensesystems.com
18176truncate.gbudb.net
17721hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17181dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
16917blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
16489bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
14694bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
12412psbl.surriel.com
11151bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
11061ubl.unsubscore.com
10494dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
9188blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
6332db.wpbl.info
6198bl.spamcop.net
6130blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
5599list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5107dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
4784bl.score.senderscore.com
4565dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
3882hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
3821wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3510ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
3270bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
3139zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
3076dnsbl.inps.de
2855hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2700ips.backscatterer.org
2363wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2336hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
1977korea.services.net
1573blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1555hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1449wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1329bl.spamcannibal.org
1288spamsources.fabel.dk
1050mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
629accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
585query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
433zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
433zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
399dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
389aspews.ext.sorbs.net
317tr.countries.nerd.dk
306l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
290dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
258iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
232iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
160l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
128dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
97hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
67dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
65dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
49dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
49dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
49dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
44dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
31dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
30dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
29tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
27tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
26blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
15swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
9swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
9wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
9bl.deadbeef.com
7dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
6swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
2tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
2dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
2hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
1zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.5 = time-expired NJABL open proxy)
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
1multi.surbl.org
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.7 = spam source netblock)
1multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
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
50848(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 183 at SDSC)
29349hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
23929hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
19246(union of most domain zones)
16365abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
13779l1.apews.org
6224whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
5030whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3722hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
3041hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1195whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
493hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
320hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
247hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
178urired.spameatingmonkey.net
163dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
163dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
156hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
127hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
44postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
33bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
25multi.surbl.org
22multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
22multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
20rhsbl.ahbl.org
16dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
14hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
13fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
7dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
3bl.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
30734(total number of domains tested, including 158 at SDSC)
21133hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
6916(union of most domain zones)
4549hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
3261whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
3097whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
2475hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2412hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1834abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1305hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
850l1.apews.org
826postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
782hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
711dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
711dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
609multi.surbl.org
591multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
583multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
562bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
551urired.spameatingmonkey.net
386hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
270dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
164whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
138hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
133rhsbl.ahbl.org
127dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
122fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
14hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
11hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
10ex.dnsbl.org
7multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
2hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
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 13 June 2011.