Summary
Newly registered domain names are generally not placed on a direct, universal blacklist simply for being new. Instead, they begin with a 'cold,' 'zero,' or 'neutral' reputation, meaning they lack any established sending history or trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems. This absence of history often causes ISPs to treat new domains with caution and suspicion, frequently resulting in emails being filtered to spam folders or heavily throttled until a positive sending reputation is carefully established. This cautious approach is partly driven by professional spammers who frequently leverage thousands of new, short-lived domains for illicit campaigns, prompting ISPs to view new domains with heightened scrutiny, effectively putting them into a 'probationary period' until legitimate sending behavior is consistently demonstrated.
Key findings
- No Direct Blacklist: Newly registered domains are not automatically placed on a universal blacklist; rather, they lack a pre-existing positive reputation.
- Zero Reputation Start: New domains begin with a 'cold' or 'neutral' reputation, requiring them to actively build trust with ISPs and anti-spam filters.
- ISP Scrutiny: ISPs and anti-spam systems treat new domains with increased suspicion and caution, often leading to initial filtering to spam folders or throttling.
- Internal ISP Tracking: Major ISPs likely maintain their own internal systems to track new domains and assess their sending history and age.
- Spammer Exploitation: The frequent use of thousands of short-lived domains by professional spammers contributes significantly to ISPs' cautious approach toward new senders.
- Age as a Factor: Domain age and the recency of DNS name server changes can be significant factors in reputation scoring for some security and anti-spam systems.
- Specialized Lists: While not universally common, some third-party lists, such as SURBL fresh or the historical 'Day old bread,' may specifically target freshly registered domains or those with suspicious registration patterns.
Key considerations
- Strategic Warm-up: Implement a gradual domain warm-up process to slowly build a positive sending history and establish trust with mailbox providers.
- Robust Authentication: Immediately set up and properly configure essential sender authentication protocols, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to signal legitimacy.
- Consistent Sending: Focus on demonstrating consistent, legitimate sending behavior and adhere to ISP sending guidelines from the outset.
- Avoid High Volumes: Refrain from sending high or erratic email volumes from a new domain, as this can trigger immediate filtering and damage reputation.
- Monitor Deliverability: Continuously monitor deliverability performance and sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address any issues promptly.
Spamhaus
0Spam
Cisco
NoSolicitado
URIBL
abuse.ro
ALPHANET
Anonmails
Ascams
BLOCKEDSERVERS
Calivent Networks
EFnet
JustSpam
Kempt.net
NordSpam
RV-SOFT Technology
Scientific Spam
Spamikaze
SpamRATS
SPFBL
Suomispam
System 5 Hosting
Team Cymru
Validity
www.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting Service
ZapBL
2stepback.dk
Fayntic Services
ORB UK
technoirc.org
TechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftWhat email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Instead of being immediately blacklisted, a newly registered domain name begins its journey with a neutral or 'cold' reputation, lacking any established trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems. This absence of prior history means ISPs often view new domains with inherent suspicion, a necessary caution given spammers' frequent exploitation of fresh domains. Consequently, emails from new domains are prone to initial filtering into spam folders or significant throttling, not due to an explicit blacklist entry, but rather a lack of positive reputation. Overcoming this 'zero trust' state requires a deliberate strategy to demonstrate legitimate sending behavior and gradually build a positive sending history.
Key opinions
- Initial Zero Reputation: Newly registered domains do not land on traditional blacklists, instead starting with a 'cold' or 'zero' reputation.
- ISP Scrutiny and Filtering: Due to the lack of a positive history, ISPs and anti-spam systems treat new domains with caution, often filtering emails to spam or heavily throttling delivery.
- Specialized Suspicion Lists: While not common, some third-party lists like SURBL fresh or historical 'Day old bread' may identify or flag newly registered or suspicious domains.
- Domain Age as a Factor: The age of a domain and the recency of its name server changes can influence its initial reputation score within some anti-spam heuristics.
Key considerations
- Implement a Strategic Warm-up: A meticulous, gradual warm-up process is essential to build a positive sending reputation and establish trust with mailbox providers over time.
- Prioritize Sender Authentication: Crucially, set up and configure robust sender authentication protocols SPF, DKIM, and DMARC from day one to signal legitimacy to mail servers.
- Demonstrate Legitimate Sending: Focus on sending consistent, valued content to engaged recipients to steadily improve sender reputation and avoid triggering spam filters.
- Monitor Deliverability Metrics: Actively track email deliverability performance, including open rates, click-throughs, and bounce rates, to quickly identify and address any issues during the reputation-building phase.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that SURBL fresh might be a list for freshly registered domain names, although its public usability is uncertain.
23 Jan 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks recalls 'Day old bread' as a main third-party list that addresses freshly registered domains.
28 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Newly registered domain names are not automatically added to blacklists, but they do start with a neutral reputation, meaning they lack any established history or trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This absence of a positive track record leads ISPs and mailbox providers to treat new domains with considerable caution, often placing them under intense scrutiny. This heightened vigilance is a direct response to professional spammers who frequently cycle through thousands of new domains for brief periods to evade filters, requiring a new domain to actively build and demonstrate a legitimate sending reputation.
Key opinions
- No Automatic Blacklist: Newly registered domains are not automatically blacklisted upon creation; instead, they begin with a neutral or unestablished reputation.
- Initial Scrutiny: Mailbox providers and ISPs subject newly registered domains to heightened scrutiny due to their lack of sending history and proven legitimacy.
- Spammer Influence: The common tactic of professional spammers using high volumes of short-lived new domains significantly contributes to the cautious approach taken by ISPs towards new senders.
- Internal ISP Tracking: Major ISPs likely maintain their own internal systems to track domains based on age and previous sending activity, using this data as a reputation factor.
- Conditional Listing: While not a direct 'new domain' blacklist, some specialized services may list domains associated with suspicious registration patterns or prior abuse, rather than merely their newness.
Key considerations
- Warm-up Strategy: Implement a phased warm-up strategy to gradually build a positive sending history and establish trust with mailbox providers.
- Authentication Protocols: Immediately set up and properly configure critical sender authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to signal legitimacy.
- Consistent, Legitimate Sending: Focus on consistently sending valuable, legitimate content to engaged recipients, which steadily builds reputation and avoids triggering spam filters.
- Volume Management: Avoid sending large or erratic email volumes from a new domain, as this can trigger immediate red flags with anti-spam systems.
- Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics and sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools to proactively address any emerging issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that major ISPs likely maintain their own easy-to-manage lists for new domains and track if they've seen mail from a domain before and when. She notes that professional spammers frequently use thousands of domains activated for short periods (7-10 days) for spam runs before retiring them, a pattern that ISPs observe and use as a reputation factor.
1 Sep 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that newly registered domains are not automatically blacklisted. Instead, they face scrutiny due to a lack of sending history and reputation. Some services, like Spamhaus DBL, might list domains associated with suspicious registration patterns or prior abuse by their registrants, but this isn't a direct "new domain" blacklist. Mailbox providers often treat new domains with caution, putting them into a probationary period.
23 May 2022 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
A newly registered domain isn't directly added to a blacklist, yet its newness signifies a lack of established sending history and reputation. This absence of a track record prompts Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems to treat emails from these domains with extreme caution. This cautious stance is primarily a defense mechanism against spammers who frequently cycle through new domains to bypass filters. Therefore, while not explicitly blacklisted, new domains are effectively in a probationary period, demanding a deliberate and gradual approach to build trust and ensure deliverability.
Key findings
- No Automatic Blacklist: Newly registered domains are not automatically added to blacklists; their challenge stems from lacking a prior reputation.
- Initial Neutral Reputation: Domains begin with no established sending history, often referred to as a 'cold' or 'neutral' reputation.
- ISP Scrutiny: Due to the absence of a positive track record, ISPs and mailbox providers apply heightened scrutiny and filtering to new domains.
- Domain Age as a Factor: Security systems, like Cisco Talos, often consider domain age as a factor in reputation scoring, assigning lower trust to very new domains.
- Spammer Influence: The frequent use of new domains by spammers heavily contributes to the cautious approach taken by email providers, leading to default filtering.
Key considerations
- Gradual Warm-up: Implement a systematic, gradual warm-up process to build a positive sending history and establish trust over time.
- Reputation Building: Understand that reputation is built through consistent, legitimate sending behavior and adherence to best practices.
- Volume Management: Avoid sending large or erratic volumes of email initially, as this can trigger immediate flags and negatively impact reputation.
- Compliance with Guidelines: Adhere strictly to the sending guidelines provided by major mailbox providers like Google and Microsoft to ensure compliance and avoid being flagged as suspicious.
- Monitoring Deliverability: Regularly monitor deliverability and sender reputation using available tools to identify and address any potential issues early.
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun Documentation explains that newly registered domains lack a sending history and reputation, making them susceptible to filtering. While not explicitly blacklisted, they are treated cautiously by ISPs. Mailgun strongly recommends a gradual warm-up process to build a positive reputation and ensure optimal deliverability.
1 Jun 2024 - Mailgun Documentation
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus FAQ explains that while Spamhaus does not maintain a blacklist specifically for newly registered domains, their systems, and those of ISPs, assign reputation based on observed sending behavior. New domains lack this history, making them vulnerable to default filtering if sending patterns resemble spam, highlighting the importance of building a positive reputation.
12 Sep 2022 - Spamhaus FAQ
Related resources
5 resources
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Why avoid sending email from a newly registered domain?
