The impact of a UCEPROTECT listing on email deliverability is complex and debated. A Level 1 listing indicates direct spam activity from your IP, while Levels 2 and 3 suggest a compromised network. While some sources emphasize that being listed on blocklists like UCEPROTECT can severely affect deliverability by leading to email rejections or spam folder placement and damage sender reputation, many experts and email marketers report that its influence is limited as major ISPs and corporations are moving away from using UCEPROTECT. Some even advise ignoring it. The relevance of UCEPROTECT varies depending on the recipient's email provider and spam filtering setup. Key to mitigating any potential negative effects includes implementing proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining clean email lists, actively monitoring IP and domain reputation, and using deliverability testing tools. Even major ESPs such as AWS, SendGrid, Mailchimp and Sparkpost have been listed on UCEPROTECT in the past, indicating that UCEPROTECT may cast a wide net that could include legitimate senders.
12 marketer opinions
Being listed on UCEPROTECT can have varying impacts on email deliverability. While some sources suggest it can severely affect deliverability by causing emails to be rejected or sent to spam, others indicate that its influence is limited because many major ISPs and email providers don't heavily rely on this blocklist. The level of impact also depends on whether the listing is Level 1 (IP address sending spam) or Level 2/3 (bad neighbors). Best practices for email sending, such as clean lists and proper authentication, can minimize negative consequences. Monitoring IP and domain reputation and using deliverability testing tools are crucial for identifying and addressing potential issues. Ultimately, the relevance of a UCEPROTECT listing is not universally consistent and depends on the recipient's email provider and spam filtering setup.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that blocklists can severely impact email deliverability, leading to emails being rejected or sent to the spam folder. Being listed on a major blocklist can damage sender reputation.
27 Mar 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view
Email marketer from HubSpot answers that while a listing on UCEPROTECT could have some negative consequences for a sender, a good way of minimizing impact is to adopt best practices for email sending (e.g. keep lists clean, authenticate emails, send engaging content).
20 Feb 2025 - HubSpot
5 expert opinions
The impact of a UCEPROTECT listing on email deliverability is debated among experts. While it's used more in certain regions, particularly Germany, its overall effectiveness and adoption are questionable. Major email providers and corporations have largely moved away from using UCEPROTECT data. Some experts suggest that if you're focused on serious deliverability, UCEPROTECT may not warrant significant attention, while others emphasize the importance of actively monitoring your IP address for any signs of listing as a general practice for maintaining high deliverability.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states that no one who cares about email deliverability pays attention to UCEPROTECT.
17 Sep 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource shares that knowing what your IP address is doing, and actively looking for signs of listing is important in having high deliverability
7 Dec 2024 - Spam Resource
4 technical articles
According to documentation, a UCEPROTECT listing indicates spam activity or a compromised network. Microsoft uses blocklists to filter spam and protect users, potentially blocking emails from listed sources. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for improving deliverability and mitigating the impact of blocklists. Google considers blocklists as one factor in assessing sending reputation, which can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC Editor specifies that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for improving email deliverability and can help to mitigate the impact of blocklist listings.
9 Jan 2022 - RFC Editor
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that Google considers multiple factors, including blocklists, when assessing the sending reputation of an IP address or domain. A poor sending reputation can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked.
26 Dec 2022 - Google
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