Blacklists Compared

7 April 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
52637(total number of IP addresses tested, including 211 at SDSC)
49816(union of most IP zones)
41130b.barracudacentral.org
40889l2.apews.org
40280zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
39028ip.v4bl.org
38876cbl.abuseat.org
38874zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
32743bl.tiopan.com
26101zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
25250hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
24678dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
24214all.spamrats.com (union of all results)
21231hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
20242dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
19780bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
19317dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
18181spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
17670dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
15865bl.spameatingmonkey.net
14470all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.36 = dialup)
12917blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
9965psbl.surriel.com
9918bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
9821all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.37 = no reverse DNS entry)
9763dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
9645truncate.gbudb.net
9195dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
6926bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
6643bl.spamcop.net
6472bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
6183dnsbl.inps.de
6039list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
6031blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
5516blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
5484zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
4456db.wpbl.info
4087bl.score.senderscore.com
3498hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
3454wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
2741hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2663ips.backscatterer.org
2340hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2240wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
1933ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
1605hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1580korea.services.net
1365blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1264ubl.unsubscore.com
1214wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
1185bl.spamcannibal.org
886spamsources.fabel.dk
709accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
651query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
637zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
601mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
516zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
468tr.countries.nerd.dk
343l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
342l1.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
315dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
252dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
235aspews.ext.sorbs.net
224dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
185dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
176iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
153hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
150dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
121zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
63dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
63dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
63dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
58dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
48tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
46tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
45iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
35dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
28dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
23dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
16dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
10swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
8bl.deadbeef.com
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
6multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
6dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
6multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
5swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
5blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
4multi.surbl.org
3swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
2tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
2swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.7 = spam source netblock)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.9 = abused DNS server)
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
52637(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 211 at SDSC)
28197hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
22940hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17884(union of most domain zones)
14187abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
11834l1.apews.org
7084whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
6037whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3408hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2752hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1047whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
401hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
309dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
309dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
253hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
233hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
193urired.spameatingmonkey.net
155hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
65hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
23postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
22multi.surbl.org
20fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
19bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
19rhsbl.ahbl.org
14dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
13multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
13multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
8hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
4dsn.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
18735(total number of domains tested, including 181 at SDSC)
14131hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
3977(union of most domain zones)
3304hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
1762hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1471hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1310whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
1209whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
1066abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
826dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
826dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
770hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
559multi.surbl.org
553postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
514hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
511urired.spameatingmonkey.net
417l1.apews.org
396multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
379multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
320bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
243hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
160dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
101whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
87fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
84dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
14multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
14hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
14rhsbl.ahbl.org
9hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
5ex.dnsbl.org
3multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
2hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.3 = MTA somtimes sends QUIT)
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 9 April 2012.