Blacklists Compared

2 July 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
45062(total number of IP addresses tested, including 168 at SDSC)
41866(union of most IP zones)
33501b.barracudacentral.org
33262l2.apews.org
31693zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
29791zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
29791cbl.abuseat.org
27041hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
26037bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
24317dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
21139spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
19700zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
19228dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
18985dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
18122bl.tiopan.com
17290hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
16175ddnsbl.internetdefensesystems.com
15741bl.spameatingmonkey.net
15230blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
14680truncate.gbudb.net
13430bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
13299dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
13027psbl.surriel.com
12510bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
10160bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
8199blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
7594dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
6950ubl.unsubscore.com
5930db.wpbl.info
5751bl.spamcop.net
5657list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5430blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
4804bl.score.senderscore.com
4541no-more-funn.moensted.dk (union of all results)
4399dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
4239zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
3838wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3696hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
3413ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
3010dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
2864hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2835bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
2684dnsbl.inps.de
2640hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2429no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
2376ips.backscatterer.org
2311wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2001no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.3 = dialup)
1575blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1519wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1491hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1399korea.services.net
1228bl.spamcannibal.org
1071mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
1068spamsources.fabel.dk
592accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
551query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
385dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
330l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
300aspews.ext.sorbs.net
295zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
295zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
268dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
253iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
242tr.countries.nerd.dk
235dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
230iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
143dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
76l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
75dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
68dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
50no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
49dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
47dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
47dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
47dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
46hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
46no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.10 = open proxy)
41no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.7 = spam haven)
32tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
32tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
26blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
17dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
14swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
13bl.deadbeef.com
9multi.surbl.org
8wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
7swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
7swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
5dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
3spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.7 = spam source netblock)
3spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
2dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
1zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.5 = time-expired NJABL open proxy)
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
1hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
1multi.uribl.com (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
45062(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 168 at SDSC)
26324hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
21332hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17569(union of most domain zones)
14249abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
11775l1.apews.org
6485whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
5389whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3517hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2855hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1096whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
366hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
350hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
222hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
197hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
176urired.spameatingmonkey.net
152dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
152dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
93hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
44postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
39bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
30multi.surbl.org
22fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
21rhsbl.ahbl.org
20dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
12hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
11multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
11multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
6dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
1bl.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
22777(total number of domains tested, including 136 at SDSC)
18807hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
6947(union of most domain zones)
4098whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
3972whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3793hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2130hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2041hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1418abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1005hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
760postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
636l1.apews.org
542bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
475urired.spameatingmonkey.net
454hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
435hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
351dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
351dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
287multi.surbl.org
274dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
258multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
249multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
126whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
49fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
49hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
44dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
16hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
15rhsbl.ahbl.org
9ex.dnsbl.org
8hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
7multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
3hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
2multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 4 July 2011.