The Polspam RHSBL RBL Very Hard Blacklist is a domain-based blacklist (blocklist) from the Polish RBL server which lists suspicious domain names known to use spam filters and generate a low score.
The Polspam RHSBL RBL Very Hard Blacklist is a domain-based blocklist (blacklist) managed by the Polish RBL server, Polspam. Its primary function is to identify and list suspicious domain names that have been observed in spam-like activities. Unlike some other blacklists that cause an immediate rejection of email, this one is designed to be used with spam filtering software, such as SpamAssassin.
When an email is received from a domain on this list, it contributes to the email's overall spam score. A higher score increases the probability that the email will be filtered into the junk folder. Polspam's policy specifically notes that mail from listed domains should not be bounced automatically. They also maintain certain lists, marked with an "h", which are considered highly restrictive. It is recommended that these lists only be used with spam filters to assign a score, as outright rejecting mail based on them can lead to undesirable effects and block legitimate email.
This blocklist is operated by Polspam, which describes itself as a Polish RBL server. The project is run as a hobby by a community of volunteers dedicated to combating spam and disrupting the activities of spammers. It is not a commercial entity. Polspam does not accept donations or sponsorships and does not offer any electronic services in a legal sense. Its purpose is strictly informational, providing data about domains reported for spamming by the internet community.
The delisting process for the Polspam RHSBL RBL Very Hard Blacklist is strict and manual. There is no automated removal form. The operators state they do not delist domains known for notorious or repeated spamming. A delisting is generally only considered for one-off incidents that are believed to have been unintentional or for cases like a virus-infected computer.
To request removal, you must send an email. This email must be in plain text format only. Messages sent in HTML or containing tracking elements will be ignored. You must be completely honest and detailed in your request, as the operators will verify the information.
Your email should contain the following information:
It is important to note that Polspam lists domains, not just IP addresses. If your domain is listed, the IP address it is hosted on may also be listed as a consequence. The IP address will be automatically removed from the blocklist 7 days after the offending domain has ceased all spamming activity and been delisted. Requesting to delist an IP address by itself is not the correct procedure.
The impact of being listed on the Polspam RHSBL RBL Very Hard Blacklist is generally considered low. The operators explicitly state that their blacklist (or blocklist) does not block any mail on its own. Instead, it is designed to be one of many signals used by a receiving mail server's spam filter.
A listing will add points to an email's spam score. If the total score from all checks exceeds the threshold set by the receiving administrator, the email may be delivered to the recipient's spam folder or, in stricter configurations, rejected entirely. Therefore, while a listing does not guarantee that your emails will be blocked, it does negatively affect your sender reputation and increases the chance of deliverability problems.
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