Summary
While its relevance is debated, experts and marketers agree that a SpamRats listing *can* negatively impact email deliverability, especially with smaller ISPs or organizations that aggressively filter mail. A SpamRats listing suggests potential spam activity or compromised systems originating from your IP range or network. Experts emphasize proactively monitoring blocklists like SpamRats and maintaining a clean IP reputation to prevent deliverability problems. If listed, investigate the cause (malware, dynamic IPs, compromised systems), secure your systems, clean up sending practices, and follow the delisting process on the SpamRats website. Implementing reputation monitoring tools, feedback loops, engaging with mailbox providers, and being mindful of sending volumes are also recommended.
Key findings
- Relevance Variance: Some consider SpamRats less relevant than other blocklists, while others highlight its importance in a broader deliverability context.
- Listing Indicates Issues: A SpamRats listing often indicates spam-like activity, compromised systems, or dynamic IP assignment.
- Smaller ISPs Impact: Impact is likely greater for smaller ISPs and organizations with stricter filtering policies.
- Proactive Monitoring Key: Proactive monitoring and a clean IP reputation are essential for preventing listings and ensuring deliverability.
- Remediation Required: Delisting requires identifying and fixing the root cause of the listing (e.g., securing systems, cleaning up sending practices).
- Delisting Process: You will need to request delisting from SpamRats through their website, providing evidence that the issue is resolved.
Key considerations
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sending reputation and check SpamRats and other blocklists.
- Investigate Listings: If listed, promptly investigate the cause and source of the problem.
- Secure Systems: Take immediate steps to secure your systems against malware and unauthorized sending.
- Follow Delisting Process: Adhere to the delisting process outlined on the SpamRats website.
- Engage with Providers: Establish feedback loops and engage with mailbox providers to improve your sending reputation.
- Monitor Sending Volumes: Be mindful of your sending volumes to avoid being flagged for suspicious activity.
- Implement Monitoring Tools: Implement robust monitoring tools to detect and address potential deliverability issues.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
While SpamRats might not be the most prominent blacklist, its listing can negatively affect email deliverability, especially with smaller ISPs and organizations that aggressively filter mail. It's crucial to monitor your sending reputation, investigate the reason for being listed (often due to spam-like activity or compromised systems), secure your systems, and then follow the delisting process outlined on the SpamRats website.
Key opinions
- Impact on Deliverability: Although not as influential as some other blocklists, SpamRats can negatively impact deliverability, particularly with smaller ISPs and organizations.
- Listing Reasons: Listing often indicates spam-like activity originating from your IP address or a compromised system.
- Delisting Process: Delisting involves identifying and fixing the source of the problem, securing your systems, and then submitting a delisting request with evidence of resolution.
- Importance of Monitoring: Regularly checking blocklists like SpamRats is important to keeping track of your email sending reputation.
- Detection of listing: Testing tools like Mail-tester will identify whether you are listed on SpamRats.
Key considerations
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sending reputation and check if you are listed on SpamRats.
- Investigate and Secure: If listed, investigate the source of the problem and secure your systems to prevent further issues.
- Follow Delisting Process: Adhere to the delisting process outlined on the SpamRats website, providing evidence of resolution.
- Consider ISP Impact: Be aware that SpamRats listing may have a greater impact on deliverability to smaller ISPs or organizations with aggressive filtering policies.
- Use Testing tools: Use email testing tools like mail-tester to check if you are currently listed on SpamRats.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Gmass explains that while SpamRats might not be the most influential blacklist, it can still impact deliverability, especially if you're targeting smaller organizations or using less common email providers. It's part of a broader picture of your sending reputation.
27 Sep 2023 - Gmass
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailDeliverabilityForum mentions that a SpamRats listing isn't a 'death sentence,' but it's a warning sign. Investigate your sending practices and server security immediately.
6 May 2022 - EmailDeliverabilityForum
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
While some experts consider SpamRats to be less relevant, especially if the IP address is statically assigned with proper reverse DNS, others emphasize the importance of monitoring blocklists, including SpamRats, to proactively identify and address deliverability issues. If an IP address listed on SpamRats is from a consumer ISP pool, it might indicate malware. Continuous reputation monitoring, implementing robust monitoring tools, establishing feedback loops, and engaging with mailbox providers are recommended for maintaining a good sending reputation.
Key opinions
- Relevance: SpamRats' relevance is debated; some consider it less critical, especially for statically assigned IPs.
- Malware Indication: Listing of an IP from a consumer ISP pool emitting SMTP traffic may suggest malware.
- Monitoring Importance: Proactive monitoring of blocklists, including SpamRats, is emphasized for identifying deliverability issues.
- DNS Considerations: If using a smarthost, a listing may point to problems with reverse DNS or SpamRats' own heuristics.
Key considerations
- Monitor Blocklists: Implement tools and procedures for monitoring blocklists like SpamRats.
- Investigate Listings: If listed, investigate the IP's origin and characteristics (static vs. dynamic, reverse DNS).
- Secure Systems: If the listed IP is from a consumer ISP pool, investigate and address potential malware issues.
- Improve Reputation: Establish feedback loops and engage with mailbox providers to maintain a good sending reputation.
- Address DNS Issues: If using a smarthost, verify and correct reverse DNS entries.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that SpamRats has been around for a long time but is not particularly relevant.
7 Sep 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise underscores the need for continuous reputation monitoring, which includes checking blocklists, to identify potential deliverability problems early on. They also suggest implementing feedback loops and engaging with mailbox providers to improve your sending reputation.
31 Aug 2024 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Documentation emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean IP reputation across reputable blocklists, including monitoring and addressing listings on SpamRats. SpamRats lists IPs exhibiting spam characteristics, such as those associated with compromised machines or dynamic IPs. If listed, it's recommended to investigate the cause, remediate any spam or malware issues, secure your systems, and contact SpamRats for delisting. Regularly checking blocklists and being mindful of sending volumes are essential preventative measures.
Key findings
- Listing Criteria: SpamRats lists IPs showing characteristics of spam sending, including dynamic IPs and compromised systems.
- Impact on Deliverability: A listing on SpamRats can negatively impact email deliverability, potentially causing issues for users.
- Remediation Steps: If listed, investigate for malware, secure systems, and contact SpamRats for delisting.
- Importance of Prevention: Regularly check blacklists like SpamRats and be aware of sending volumes to prevent listings.
- General reputation: Maintaining a clean IP reputation across all reputable blocklists is critical.
Key considerations
- Monitor Regularly: Implement regular checks of SpamRats and other blocklists.
- Investigate Promptly: If listed, promptly investigate the cause of the listing.
- Secure Systems: Take steps to secure systems against malware and unauthorized sending.
- Delisting Process: Follow SpamRats' delisting process after addressing the underlying issue.
- Track Sending Volumes: Be aware of your sending volumes to avoid being flagged for suspicious activity.
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that while they don't specifically comment on SpamRats, maintaining a clean IP reputation across reputable blocklists is vital for email deliverability. If listed, investigate the cause and take steps to remediate any spam or malware issues originating from your network.
7 Oct 2024 - Spamhaus
Technical article
Documentation from SpamRats details that they list IPs that show characteristics of sending spam, including dynamic IPs and compromised systems. If an IP exhibits these behaviors, it will be added to their blocklist.
17 Aug 2024 - SpamRats
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