Blacklists Compared

25 February 2012

[ 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
47899(total number of IP addresses tested, including 199 at SDSC)
45375(union of most IP zones)
36367b.barracudacentral.org
35930l2.apews.org
34786zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
33345ip.v4bl.org
32973zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
32973cbl.abuseat.org
26918bl.tiopan.com
24166hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
22097zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
21475dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
20724all.spamrats.com (union of all results)
20171bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
20164spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
17509hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17154dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
16636dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
15909dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
15432ubl.unsubscore.com
13591bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
13537bl.spameatingmonkey.net
13521blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
12009psbl.surriel.com
11905all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.36 = dialup)
11594truncate.gbudb.net
9415dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
8888all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.37 = no reverse DNS entry)
7291dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
6989bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
6342bl.spamcop.net
6303blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
6026list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5974bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
5811blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
5808dnsbl.inps.de
5135db.wpbl.info
4615hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
4510zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
3945no-more-funn.moensted.dk (union of all results)
3602bl.score.senderscore.com
3550wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3405ips.backscatterer.org
2731ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
2623hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2487hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2312wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2246no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
1678hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1675no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.3 = dialup)
1400blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1365korea.services.net
1306bl.spamcannibal.org
1233wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
987spamsources.fabel.dk
797mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
646accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
606zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
578query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
414zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
389dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
347l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
328l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
296tr.countries.nerd.dk
296dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
295aspews.ext.sorbs.net
223dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
199iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
192zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
187dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
156hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
125dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
106iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
62hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
48dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
42dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
42dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
42dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
37dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
37no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.7 = spam haven)
36dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
36tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
35tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
14swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
13dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
13dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
10multi.surbl.org
7blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
6swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
6bl.deadbeef.com
5swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
5wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
5no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
3swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
2dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
1tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.9 = abused DNS server)
1no-more-funn.moensted.dk (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.20 = blog/wiki/comment spam source)
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
47899(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 199 at SDSC)
26171hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
21263hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
16481(union of most domain zones)
13062abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
10694l1.apews.org
6414whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
5428whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3491hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2657hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
987whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
355dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
355dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
350hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
243urired.spameatingmonkey.net
228hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
213hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
184hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
104dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
85hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
63fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
29multi.surbl.org
26bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
20postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
13rhsbl.ahbl.org
9multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
9hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
9multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
4dsn.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
27231(total number of domains tested, including 175 at SDSC)
21051hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
5552(union of most domain zones)
3943hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2168hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2061hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1748whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
1599whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
1584abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
891dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
891dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
822hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
713postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
697urired.spameatingmonkey.net
624l1.apews.org
616hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
536multi.surbl.org
515dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
454bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
427multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
417multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
306hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
218dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
149whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
73fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
21hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
13hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
13rhsbl.ahbl.org
12hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
10multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
7ex.dnsbl.org
3hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 27 February 2012.