Blacklists Compared

24 March 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
52015(total number of IP addresses tested, including 167 at SDSC)
49293(union of most IP zones)
40357l2.apews.org
40203b.barracudacentral.org
39417zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
37993zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
37992cbl.abuseat.org
37395ip.v4bl.org
31292bl.tiopan.com
27674bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
25432zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
24172hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
23259all.spamrats.com (union of all results)
22901dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
20933hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
20309bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
19759spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
19280dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
19236dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
18737truncate.gbudb.net
17380dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
15276bl.spameatingmonkey.net
14784ubl.unsubscore.com
13820blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
13289all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.36 = dialup)
10314dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
10058all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.37 = no reverse DNS entry)
8332dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
8260psbl.surriel.com
7565bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
6536bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
6430bl.spamcop.net
6322blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
6107blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
6072list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
6017dnsbl.inps.de
5371zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
4609db.wpbl.info
3622hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
3553wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
2899bl.score.senderscore.com
2801ips.backscatterer.org
2667hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2452ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
2398hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2282wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
1685korea.services.net
1576hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1382blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1305bl.spamcannibal.org
1270wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
973spamsources.fabel.dk
701mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
693zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
687accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
619query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
565zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
338dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
337tr.countries.nerd.dk
305l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
305l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
278dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
235aspews.ext.sorbs.net
203dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
196iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
191dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
178hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
132dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
128zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
101iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
64dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
64dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
64dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
43tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
42tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
41dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
39dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
20dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
19dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
16swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
13dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
9blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
8swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
6dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
6swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
5bl.deadbeef.com
4multi.surbl.org
2multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
2swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
2multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
1tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.9 = abused DNS server)
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
52015(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 167 at SDSC)
27623hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
21928hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17984(union of most domain zones)
14270abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
11590l1.apews.org
7157whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
6120whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3599hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2708hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1038whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
488hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
368dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
368dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
262hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
254urired.spameatingmonkey.net
231hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
213hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
107hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
39multi.surbl.org
24bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
20rhsbl.ahbl.org
19postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
18fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
13multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
13dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
13multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
5dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
2bl.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
26992(total number of domains tested, including 133 at SDSC)
20190hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
5776(union of most domain zones)
3602hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2572whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
2449whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
1923hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1690hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1241abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
847hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
799dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
798dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
690postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
665urired.spameatingmonkey.net
591multi.surbl.org
542hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
516bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
471l1.apews.org
458multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
446multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
344hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
197dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
123whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
118dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
109fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
32hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
19rhsbl.ahbl.org
18hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
12hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
10multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
8ex.dnsbl.org
4hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
2multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
1dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.3 = domain redirects to spammer)
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 26 March 2012.