The RedHawk SpamHawk Blacklist is an IP-based blocklist (blacklist) maintained by Redhawk.org that has a low impact on email deliverability, and removal is considered very difficult.
The RedHawk SpamHawk Blacklist is a DNS Blocklist (DNSBL) that lists IP addresses its operators believe to be sources of spam. It operates under the zone name access.redhawk.org. This specific blacklist is maintained by RedHawk's SpamHawk® product.
Technically, it functions as a real-time database of IP addresses. When an email is sent to a mail server that uses this blocklist, the server queries the access.redhawk.org zone. If the sending IP address is found on the list, the email is rejected. The documentation states that this blacklist is implemented via Sendmail, suggesting it is used by individual system administrators running their own mail servers rather than by large email providers.
There is very little public information available about the organization or individuals behind the RedHawk SpamHawk Blacklist. The associated domain, redhawk.org, appears to be a personal website. The site contains cooking recipes and older blog posts that suggest the owner is a developer based in the United States. This indicates that the blacklist (or blocklist) is likely a personal project rather than a service run by a large cybersecurity corporation.
Unfortunately, there is no longer a clear or public process for requesting delisting from the RedHawk SpamHawk Blacklist. Historically, the website offered a feedback link for users to submit delisting requests.
Currently, the site advises that contact information for inquiries or removal can be found in the domain's WHOIS record. However, the WHOIS information for redhawk.org is redacted for privacy, making it impossible to find contact details. This effectively means there is no functional way to request removal from this blocklist.
If you find yourself on any email blacklist, it's crucial to first resolve the underlying issue that caused the listing. Before seeking removal from any blocklist, you should always:
The impact of being on the RedHawk SpamHawk Blacklist is considered low. This blacklist is not used by major mailbox providers such as Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or Yahoo. Its usage appears to be limited to a small number of organizations or individuals who have manually configured their Sendmail servers to use this specific DNSBL.
While a listing on this blocklist could prevent your emails from reaching a few specific domains, it is unlikely to cause a widespread email deliverability problem. The main issue is the lack of a delisting process, meaning that if you are listed, you may be blocked from contacting users of that server indefinitely.
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