Summary
The answers provide a comprehensive overview of how to find and block disposable email domains. Community-maintained lists, like the GitHub repository and Reddit discussions, offer readily available databases. Email verification services, such as Email Hippo, Kickbox, Hunter.io, Debounce.io, EmailListVerify, and ZeroBounce, incorporate disposable email detection. Documentation from OWASP suggests server-side validation using regularly updated lists. StopForumSpam offers an API and datasets for integration. Mailgun and AbstractAPI offer validation services with disposable email detection. Experts caution against solely relying on static lists, emphasizing the dynamic nature of disposable domains and the need for regular updates and sophisticated techniques. They also advise reviewing lists for accuracy and considering user behavior.
Key findings
- Community Lists: Community-maintained lists (GitHub, Reddit) provide regularly updated databases of disposable email domains.
- Email Verification Services: Services like Email Hippo, Kickbox, Hunter.io, Debounce.io, EmailListVerify, and ZeroBounce offer disposable email detection.
- APIs and Datasets: StopForumSpam offers an API and datasets with disposable domains, IPs, and usernames.
- Server-Side Validation: OWASP recommends server-side validation using regularly updated lists.
- Need for Sophistication: Experts warn against relying solely on static lists; sophisticated techniques are needed.
- Importance of Accuracy: Third-party lists should be reviewed for accuracy.
- User Behaviour: User behaviour can be used to identify potentially disposable email addresses.
Key considerations
- List Maintenance: Disposable email domains are dynamic, requiring frequent list updates.
- Accuracy Verification: Verify the accuracy of any third-party list to avoid blocking legitimate users.
- Technique Complexity: Consider the complexity of implementing various detection techniques.
- API Costs: Factor in costs associated with APIs and email verification services.
- User Experience: Balance security with user experience to avoid unnecessary friction.
- Adaptive Strategies: Implement adaptable strategies to counter evolving spammer tactics.
- Holistic Approach: A holistic approach, combining multiple techniques, is most effective.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
The responses indicate various methods and resources for finding and blocking disposable email domains. These range from community-maintained lists like the GitHub repository and Reddit discussions, to techniques such as regular expression matching and third-party services. Several email verification services, like Email Hippo, Kickbox, Hunter.io, Debounce.io, EmailListVerify, and ZeroBounce, offer disposable email detection as part of their suite of tools. These services often utilize algorithms, machine learning, and real-time checks to identify and remove temporary email addresses.
Key opinions
- Community Lists: Community-maintained lists on platforms like GitHub and Reddit provide regularly updated databases of disposable email domains.
- Third-Party Services: Several email verification services offer disposable email detection as part of their broader validation services.
- Multiple Techniques: Techniques like regular expression matching can be combined with third-party services for comprehensive detection.
- Real-time Verification: Some tools offer real-time email verification to identify disposable addresses at the point of entry.
- Algorithmic Detection: Email validation services often employ algorithms and machine learning to detect disposable emails.
Key considerations
- List Maintenance: Disposable email domains are constantly changing, so any list used needs to be actively maintained and updated.
- Service Costs: Third-party email verification services often come with a cost, which needs to be factored into the budget.
- Accuracy: The accuracy of detection methods can vary, so it's important to choose a reliable service or technique.
- Integration: Consider the ease of integrating the chosen method or service into your existing systems.
- Comprehensive Approach: A multi-faceted approach, combining lists, techniques, and services, may provide the most robust protection.
Marketer view
Email marketer from GitHub provides a regularly updated list of disposable email domains in a repository. The list is community maintained and actively updated.
17 Aug 2024 - GitHub
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailListVerify offers a service that identifies and removes disposable email addresses from email lists to improve deliverability and sender reputation.
27 Sep 2021 - EmailListVerify
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Experts caution against relying solely on disposable email lists and highlight the importance of careful consideration and active management. They emphasize the need to review third-party lists for accuracy, as some may incorrectly identify catch-all or legitimate domains as disposable. Additionally, experts advise against blanketly treating all domains (like Yahoo.com) as disposable, urging a more nuanced approach that aligns with the specific goals. They also point out that user behavior, such as marking emails as spam, can effectively make an email address disposable, indicating that technical solutions are only part of the equation. Furthermore, it is noted that spammers adapt quickly, so sophisticated and dynamic techniques are necessary.
Key opinions
- List Accuracy: Third-party disposable email lists may contain inaccuracies, including catch-all and legitimate domains.
- Context Matters: Blanketly blocking domains is not recommended; a nuanced approach aligned with specific goals is necessary.
- User Behavior: User behavior (e.g., marking emails as spam) can render an email address effectively disposable.
- Dynamic Spammers: Spammers adapt quickly, making reliance on static lists insufficient.
- Active Management: Disposable email lists require frequent updates and active management to remain effective.
Key considerations
- Review Lists: Carefully review any third-party list before implementation to ensure accuracy and avoid blocking legitimate users.
- Define Goals: Clearly define the goals for blocking disposable emails and tailor the approach accordingly.
- Monitor Feedback: Monitor user feedback and adapt blocking strategies based on user behavior and spam reports.
- Evolving Tactics: Implement sophisticated and adaptable techniques to combat evolving spammer tactics.
- Regular Updates: Establish a process for regularly updating and managing disposable email lists.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks advises reviewing any third-party list before using it, as some lists may include catch-all and disposable domains incorrectly.
27 Oct 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks cautions against blanketly treating domains like Yahoo.com as disposable and suggests considering the actual goal. He also points out that user behavior, such as marking emails as spam, can effectively make an email address disposable.
15 Aug 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
The documentation suggests several approaches to finding and blocking disposable email domains. OWASP recommends server-side validation using regularly updated lists to prevent account creation with temporary emails. StopForumSpam provides an API and datasets with disposable email domains, IP addresses, and usernames linked to spam for integration into registration processes. Mailgun and AbstractAPI offer email validation services and APIs that include syntax checks, domain checks, and disposable email detection to verify email validity and deliverability.
Key findings
- Server-Side Validation: Implementing server-side validation using regularly updated lists is recommended to prevent account creation with temporary emails.
- StopForumSpam API: StopForumSpam offers an API and datasets that include lists of disposable email domains, IP addresses, and usernames associated with spam activities.
- Email Validation Services: Mailgun and AbstractAPI provide email validation services/APIs with syntax checks, domain checks, and disposable email detection.
- API Integration: APIs can be integrated into registration processes for automated abuse prevention.
Key considerations
- List Maintenance: Ensure disposable email domain lists are regularly updated to remain effective.
- API Costs: Consider the costs associated with using third-party APIs like StopForumSpam, Mailgun, and AbstractAPI.
- Integration Complexity: Evaluate the complexity of integrating APIs and server-side validation into existing systems.
- Accuracy: Understand the accuracy rates of different disposable email detection methods and services.
- Data Privacy: Comply with data privacy regulations when collecting and using IP addresses and usernames.
Technical article
Documentation from StopForumSpam provides an API and datasets that include lists of disposable email domains, IP addresses, and usernames associated with spam activities, which can be integrated into registration processes to prevent abuse.
20 Jun 2022 - StopForumSpam
Technical article
Documentation from OWASP suggests implementing server-side validation using a list of known disposable email domains, regularly updated and maintained, to prevent account creation with temporary emails.
12 May 2024 - OWASP
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