Blacklists Compared

15 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
65977(total number of IP addresses tested, including 162 at SDSC)
63176(union of most IP zones)
53056l2.apews.org
52535zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
52517b.barracudacentral.org
50653cbl.abuseat.org
50651zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
46766ddnsbl.internetdefensesystems.com
43742hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
38195bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
36062dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
34773dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
34760dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
34581zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
30234spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
29445dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
29387bl.tiopan.com
28801truncate.gbudb.net
24883ubl.unsubscore.com
23685bl.spameatingmonkey.net
21130hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
20848psbl.surriel.com
20657dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
18896blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
18042bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
17107bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
11279dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
8889blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
8472blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
8136hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
8121db.wpbl.info
7815bl.spamcop.net
6861zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
5865bl.score.senderscore.com
5774list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5281no-more-funn.moensted.dk (union of all results)
5216dnsbl.inps.de
4207wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3962ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
3059ips.backscatterer.org
3039bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
2668wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2620hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2534no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.3 = dialup)
2529no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
2477hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
1912dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
1775korea.services.net
1558hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1533wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1509blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1364bl.spamcannibal.org
1313spamsources.fabel.dk
1043mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
596accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
541query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
528zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
478dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
447zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
416dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
374dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
361tr.countries.nerd.dk
350aspews.ext.sorbs.net
280dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
273l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
160iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
148hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
118no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.10 = open proxy)
116no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
106dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
103bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
99dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
99dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
99dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
88iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
81zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
66dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
43tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
41tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
38dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
30dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
28swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
26blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
22l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
18no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.7 = spam haven)
16bl.deadbeef.com
13hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
11swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
9swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
8swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
6multi.surbl.org
6wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
5dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
4multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
4multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
3dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
2tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.5 = time-expired NJABL open proxy)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.3 = spam source)
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
65977(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 162 at SDSC)
33798hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
26437hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
23908(union of most domain zones)
19028abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
15862l1.apews.org
10380whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
9050whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
4768hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2935hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1331whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
406hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
249hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
248dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
248dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
232hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
214hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
207urired.spameatingmonkey.net
163hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
67postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
43bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
40rhsbl.ahbl.org
37fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
28dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
21multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
21multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
17multi.surbl.org
13hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
5dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
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
41122(total number of domains tested, including 133 at SDSC)
36337hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
7007(union of most domain zones)
4219hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2807whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
2675whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
2450hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2319hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2270hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
1498abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1166urired.spameatingmonkey.net
884dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
884dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
801postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
801bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
643hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
615l1.apews.org
568multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
556multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
416multi.surbl.org
351hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
261dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
153hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
132whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
114fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
46dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
20rhsbl.ahbl.org
15hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
10multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
10hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
7ex.dnsbl.org
2multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
1hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 18 October 2011.