Blacklists Compared

23 June 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
43329(total number of IP addresses tested, including 180 at SDSC)
39590(union of most IP zones)
31365l2.apews.org
31352ip.v4bl.org
31351b.barracudacentral.org
30990zen.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
29092zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.4 = Composite Blocking List)
29090cbl.abuseat.org
25618bl.tiopan.com
20647hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
19752dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net
19638bl.mailspike.net (union of all results)
19522zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.11 = Spamhaus PBL, Spamhaus entry)
17480hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
15719all.spamrats.com (union of all results)
15442dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net
15135dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net
12916bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.12 = bad reputation)
12823spam.dnsbl.sorbs.net
12186psbl.surriel.com
11478dnsbl.sorbs.net (union of all results)
10367ubl.unsubscore.com
10053bl.spameatingmonkey.net
8928all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.36 = dialup)
8430wl.mailspike.net (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
7466dnsbl.inps.de
6385all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.37 = no reverse DNS entry)
6375list.dnswl.org (not a blacklist!)
6303dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.7 = hacked/vulnerable)
6029bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.2 = distributed spam wave participant)
5819dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.10 = dialup)
5540truncate.gbudb.net
5510wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.18 = good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
4391bl.spamcop.net
3916db.wpbl.info
3287zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.10 = Spamhaus PBL, ISP contributed)
3037hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
3009hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2758bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.10 = worst possible reputation)
2677ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
2649bl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.11 = very bad reputation)
2566hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
2387wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.17 = possible legitimate sender) (not a blacklist!)
2320ips.backscatterer.org
1813bl.score.senderscore.com
1657zen.spamhaus.org (union of SBL and SBLCSS results)
1386hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1089bl.spamcannibal.org
983korea.services.net
876spamsources.fabel.dk
845zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.2 = Spamhaus SBL)
812zen.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.0.3 = Spamhaus SBLCSS)
738accredit.habeas.com (not a blacklist!)
586query.bondedsender.org (not a blacklist!)
497wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.19 = very good reputation) (not a blacklist!)
469all.spamrats.com (result 127.0.0.38 = spam source)
402mail-abuse.blacklist.jippg.org
392tr.countries.nerd.dk
299l2.bbfh.ext.sorbs.net
257dnsbl.njabl.org (union of all results)
252aspews.ext.sorbs.net
246iadb.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
208dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.9 = open proxy)
198hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source aspirant)
191dnsbl.ahbl.org (union of all results)
150dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
119dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.6 = spam source)
88all.s5h.net
85iadb2.isipp.com (not a blacklist!)
57tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (union of all results)
56tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.2 = /24 contains a Tor server)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.3 = open socks proxy)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.4 = open proxy)
55dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.2 = open http proxy)
39wl.mailspike.net (result 127.0.0.20 = excellent reputation) (not a blacklist!)
31dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.3 = open proxy)
25dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.2 = open relay)
24dnsbl.njabl.org (result 127.0.0.4 = spam source)
12swl.spamhaus.org (union of all results) (not a blacklist!)
10dnsbl.ahbl.org (result 127.0.0.10 = shoot on sight spammer)
9multi.surbl.org
7swl.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)
6bl.deadbeef.com
4dnsbl-0.uceprotect.net
3multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
3swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.2 = sends individual mail) (not a blacklist!)
3dnsbl.sorbs.net (result 127.0.0.9 = zombie network)
3multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
3spamguard.leadmon.net (union of all results)
2swl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.2.103 = sends transactions - temporary listing) (not a blacklist!)
2spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.9 = abused DNS server)
1tor.dnsbl.sectoor.de (result 127.0.0.1 = Tor server)
1spamguard.leadmon.net (result 127.0.0.3 = spam source)
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
43329(total number of IP addresses whose names were tested, including 180 at SDSC)
24040hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
19209hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
15025(union of most domain zones)
11971abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
8793l1.apews.org
5772whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
4890whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
3121hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
2902hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
882whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
550dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
550dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
543hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
428hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
298urired.spameatingmonkey.net
230hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.4 = no verify host)
86hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
49hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
45multi.surbl.org
31bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
24multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
23multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
23postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
20rhsbl.ahbl.org
7hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
6fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
3dsn.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
24407(total number of domains tested, including 119 at SDSC)
20140hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.3 = domain first seen more than 7 days ago)
6673(union of most domain zones)
3782hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.1 = MTA sends QUIT)
2501dbl.spamhaus.org (result 127.0.1.2 = spam source)
2501dbl.spamhaus.org (union of all results)
2191hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam source)
2150whois.rfc-ignorant.org (union of all results)
2045hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.1 = whitelisted)
2033whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.7 = no whois data at all)
1831hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.5 = do not blacklist)
1736urired.spameatingmonkey.net
1553multi.surbl.org
1416hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.2 = domain first seen in last 7 days)
1252abuse.rfc-ignorant.org
1217multi.uribl.com (union of all results)
1204multi.uribl.com (result 127.0.0.2 = spam resource)
618postmaster.rfc-ignorant.org
445l1.apews.org
376bogusmx.rfc-ignorant.org
258hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.0.3 = mix of spam and nonspam)
163fresh.spameatingmonkey.net
124dsn.rfc-ignorant.org
117whois.rfc-ignorant.org (result 127.0.0.5 = bad whois data)
93dob.sibl.support-intelligence.net
19hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.1.2 = MTA does not send QUIT)
17hostkarma.junkemailfilter.com (result 127.0.2.1 = domain first seen today)
16hostkarma.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)
5ex.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 25 June 2012.