Blacklists Compared

14 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
54182(total number of IP addresses tested, including 175 at SDSC)
51416(union of most IP zones)
42365b.barracudacentral.org
42001l2.apews.org
41564zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
40728ip.v4bl.org
40165cbl.abuseat.org
40164zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
33745bl.tiopan.com
26454zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
26301dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
25630hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
24362all.spamrats.com (union of all results)
23726hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
20892bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
20191dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
20023dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
18406spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
18207dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
15754bl.spameatingmonkey.net
14433all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.36 = dialup)
13853blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (union of all results)
10815bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
10451dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
10022all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.37 = no reverse DNS entry)
8988dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
7835bl.spamcop.net
6814bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
6728bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
6375psbl.surriel.com
6321truncate.gbudb.net
6314blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
6295dnsbl.inps.de
6194blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.9 = misc)
6145list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
5577zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
4896db.wpbl.info
3455wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
3084bl.score.senderscore.com
2786hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
2709hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2683ips.backscatterer.org
2447hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2429ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
2291korea.services.net
2226wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
1620hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1338blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.4 = unconfirmed opt-in)
1257bl.spamcannibal.org
1229wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
992spamsources.fabel.dk
702accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
682zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
633query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
629mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
557zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
517tr.countries.nerd.dk
314l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
307dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
254dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
240dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
215aspews.ext.sorbs.net
193iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
175dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
152dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
133hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
125zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
60dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
60dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
60dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
55dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
37tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
36tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
34dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
34iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
22dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
19dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
17ubl.unsubscore.com
14swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
10bl.deadbeef.com
10dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
8swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.3 = sends transactions) (not a blacklist!)
7dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
7blackholes.five-ten-sg.com (result 127.0.0.12 = spam-friendly freemail provider)
6hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
5swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
5multi.surbl.org
2multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.9 = abused DNS server)
2multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
1tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
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
54182(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 175 at SDSC)
27558hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
22750hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
17347(union of most domain zones)
13549abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
10873l1.apews.org
6966whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
5975whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
2859hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2714hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
991whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
443hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
352dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
352dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
291hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
245hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
209urired.spameatingmonkey.net
154hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
53multi.surbl.org
51hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
46postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
37rhsbl.ahbl.org
25bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
15dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
14fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
14multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
13multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
5dsn.rfc-ignorant.org (zone not intended for this use)
1multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.8 = new domain or concealed contact)
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
19244(total number of domains tested, including 142 at SDSC)
14120hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
4132(union of most domain zones)
3541hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
1879hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
1714hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1254whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
1144whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
1144abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1016hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
885dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
885dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
857hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
671multi.surbl.org
604postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
595urired.spameatingmonkey.net
478l1.apews.org
437multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
422multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
318bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
256hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
194dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
118dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
110whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
83fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
70hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
18hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
16rhsbl.ahbl.org
13multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.4 = opt-out spam resource)
9hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
6ex.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)
1bl.deadbeef.com
This document was last updated by Jeff Makey <jeff@sdsc.edu> on 16 April 2012.