There are more than 80 IP checker blacklist services which Internet service providers and web servers look to when determining whether an IP address should be blocked. If it appears that your website or email server is involved in unwanted activity, such as spamming or bot behavior, it can be quickly flagged and land on these lists, resulting in your emails not being delivered to customers or access to websites being restricted.

How do I know if my IP address is blacklisted?

Several reasons can make your device appear as a spammer to a blacklist provider. Abnormal behaviours, such as downloading and distributing copyright-violating content or intrusion attempts — attempting to attack other networks – are detected by sensors on the network and reported to the blacklist. Blacklists will then flag the corresponding IP addresses and block them to stop the malicious activity.

Being on an IP checker blacklist can be a significant roadblock to a successful online business. For example, it prevents emails from reaching their recipients and can impact the growth of a business.

To avoid being on an IP checker blacklist, systematically monitor the reputation of your network by using online tools or reviewing system logs. Then, if your IP has been listed, you will need to contact the specific blacklist database and follow their guidelines for delisting. However, the delisting process can take some time, and submitting a request does not guarantee that the blacklist will honor it. Therefore, it is important to keep up impeccable email practices and regularly perform an IP blacklist check to identify issues early on.