Blacklists Compared

1 October 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
59289(total number of IP addresses tested, including 172 at SDSC)
56509(union of most IP zones)
47051b.barracudacentral.org
46915l2.apews.org
46164zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
44051cbl.abuseat.org
44045zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
37909hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
33415ddnsbl.internetdefensesystems.com
33039bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
31357dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
30848dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
30725spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
30382zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
29250dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
27606dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
24466bl.tiopan.com
23831truncate.gbudb.net
20770bl.spameatingmonkey.net
19584hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
19440ubl.unsubscore.com
19134dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
18157blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
17252psbl.surriel.com
14759bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
14507bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
9506dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
8895blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
7712blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
7266bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
6774db.wpbl.info
6582bl.spamcop.net
6489hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
6429dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
5985zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
5966bl.score.senderscore.com
5712list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
4496dnsbl.inps.de
3729ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
3203wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3171bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
2622hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2443hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2393ips.backscatterer.org
2261wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
1899korea.services.net
1849no-more-funn.moensted.dk (union of all results)
1604hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1529blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1467bl.spamcannibal.org
1195spamsources.fabel.dk
1097no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.3 = dialup)
1079mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
931wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
649zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
560zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
559accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
530no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
519query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
457dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
362dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
352dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
329aspews.ext.sorbs.net
263tr.countries.nerd.dk
232dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
121hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
110no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
107dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
107dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
107dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
105no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.10 = open proxy)
102iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
89zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
89l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
84iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
80dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
49dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
46dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
40dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
38tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
37tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
21hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
20blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
19l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
18swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
11wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
10swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
10bl.deadbeef.com
9no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.7 = spam haven)
7swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
5multi.surbl.org
3multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
3multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
1dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
1tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
1dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.7 = spam source netblock)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.3 = spam source)
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
59289(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 172 at SDSC)
30687hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
24519hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
21328(union of most domain zones)
17103abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
14152l1.apews.org
8848whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
7627whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
4167hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2885hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1222whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
396hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
290dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
290dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
217hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
212hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
201hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
192urired.spameatingmonkey.net
183hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
45postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
39bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
26rhsbl.ahbl.org
22multi.surbl.org
20fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
16multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
16multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
15dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
12hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
3dsn.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
38479(total number of domains tested, including 153 at SDSC)
31281hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
7270(union of most domain zones)
4028hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2939whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
2800whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
2294hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2187hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1468abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1235urired.spameatingmonkey.net
1105hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
870bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
815hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
790postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
781dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
781dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
618multi.surbl.org
612l1.apews.org
582multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
572multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
324hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
277dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
204hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
139whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
84fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
41rhsbl.ahbl.org
39dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
13hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
9multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
9hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
7ex.dnsbl.org
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
1hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
1bl.deadbeef.com
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 4 October 2011.