The Barracuda Networks Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is a real-time database, a type of blacklist (or blocklist), that contains IP addresses with a 'poor' reputation for sending email, maintained by Barracuda Central's automated systems.
The Barracuda Networks Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is a real-time IP-based blacklist of known spam sources. It is maintained by Barracuda Central, the security research division of Barracuda Networks. This blocklist is a core component of the Barracuda Reputation System, which assesses the reputation of sending IP addresses to determine if an email is legitimate or spam. The system assigns a "poor" reputation to IPs that send spam and a good reputation to those with positive sending practices.
The primary users of this blacklist are customers of the Barracuda Spam & Virus Firewall, which leverages the list to block messages from low-reputation IPs at the gateway. However, the Barracuda Networks Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is also available for public use via the DNS zone b.barracudacentral.org. The listing policy is automated but manually verified by the Barracuda Central team to maintain accuracy. In addition to IP reputation, the system also analyzes URLs within messages to identify and block threats, creating a multi-layered defense against spam.
The Barracuda Networks Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is operated by Barracuda Networks, Inc., a company specializing in security, networking, and storage products. Founded in 2003, Barracuda Networks has a long history in the cybersecurity space. The company launched the BRBL as a free and public service in December 2008 to help combat the growing problem of spam. After being acquired by Thoma Bravo in 2017, Barracuda Networks was later purchased by the global investment firm KKR in 2022 for approximately $4 billion.
If your IP address has been placed on this blocklist, you can request removal through an online form. Before submitting a request, you should ensure that the issues which caused the listing, such as a compromised machine or sending spam, have been fully resolved. Barracuda states that their listings are generated by automated systems and that delisting requests are typically investigated and processed within 12 hours if a valid explanation is provided.
To request delisting, you must:
Important: Requests without valid contact information will be ignored. Submitting multiple requests for the same IP address will also result in your requests being ignored, so it is best to submit once and wait for the review process to complete.
The impact of being listed on the Barracuda Networks Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is considered medium. While it may not be as universally adopted as some other industry blacklists, it is used by a significant number of organizations that rely on Barracuda's popular security appliances and services. A listing on this blacklist (or blocklist) will almost certainly cause email delivery failures to any recipient whose organization uses the Barracuda Spam & Virus Firewall. Since the list is also public, other system administrators may choose to incorporate it into their own anti-spam defenses, widening its potential impact.
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