How to Prevent a Malicious IP Address Blacklist

If you run your own email server, or if you use someone else’s, getting blacklisted is the last thing you want to happen. It not only ruins your reputation as a trustworthy sender, but it can also cause you to lose subscribers and damage the email deliverability of all emails sent through your server. Luckily, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid blacklisting and prevent the risk of it occurring at all.

Having your IP address added to a malicious IP address blacklist is typically a sign that there are viruses or other malware on the servers you manage, or that there is some sort of unauthorized activity taking place on your website or app. Depending on the severity of this issue, you may want to try changing your internet service provider (ISP) or contact the blacklisting company directly to request delisting. Each blacklisting company has different standards and policies for delisting, so it’s important to be aware of these before attempting to get removed.

Defending Your Network: The Ultimate Guide to Creating and Managing a Malicious IP Address Blacklist

It’s also possible that your listing isn’t even due to anything you’ve done at all. Many networks reuse the same IP addresses, meaning you could inherit a bad history from your previous owner and end up on a blacklist for no fault of your own.

Thankfully, preventing malicious activity is easier than you think. By keeping your software and antivirus updates up-to-date, using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and following best practices for email security, you can reduce the risk of your IP address being added to a blacklist.