Summary
The consensus across various email marketing experts, documentation sources, and community discussions is that the NJABL (Not Just Another Black List) email blacklist is no longer relevant or effective for email deliverability. While it was significant in the past, issues with data quality, lack of updates, and maintenance have led to its decline and eventual obsolescence. Major blocklist providers no longer include NJABL, and experts advise against using it due to the risk of false positives and the availability of more accurate, actively maintained alternatives. The appearance of A records recently does not change the overall recommendation to disregard NJABL.
Key findings
- Obsolete and Irrelevant: NJABL is no longer actively maintained or considered relevant by major blocklist providers and email experts.
- Data Quality Issues: The data in NJABL is outdated and unreliable, leading to potential false positives.
- Better Alternatives Exist: More accurate and actively maintained blocklists are available for email filtering.
- Historical Significance Only: NJABL's primary value is historical, as it was once a notable DNSBL.
Key considerations
- Do Not Use NJABL: Avoid using NJABL due to its outdated status and potential for causing deliverability issues.
- Prioritize Active Blocklists: Focus on using actively maintained and reputable blocklists for email filtering.
- Regularly Review Blocklists: Regularly evaluate and update blocklist usage to ensure relevance, accuracy, and effectiveness.
What email marketers say
9 marketer opinions
The NJABL (Not Just Another Black List) email blacklist, while significant in the past, is now largely considered obsolete. It was initially a useful DNSBL project, but due to issues with data quality, lack of updates, and maintenance problems, it declined over time. Experts and marketers advise against using NJABL, citing the risk of false positives and the availability of more accurate, actively maintained blocklists. While its A records may have reappeared recently, the consensus is that NJABL is no longer relevant for current spam filtering practices.
Key opinions
- Obsolete Status: NJABL is no longer actively maintained or considered relevant for modern spam filtering.
- Historical Significance: NJABL was once a useful DNSBL but suffered from data quality and maintenance issues.
- Outdated Data: The data in NJABL is outdated, making it ineffective and potentially harmful due to false positives.
- Better Alternatives: More accurate and actively maintained blocklists are available, making NJABL unnecessary.
Key considerations
- Avoid Using NJABL: Using NJABL can lead to deliverability issues and is not recommended.
- Focus on Active Lists: Email senders should focus on utilizing actively maintained and reputable blocklists.
- Evaluate Blocklist Relevance: Regularly evaluate the relevance and accuracy of blocklists used for spam filtering.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks recalls that NJABL stands for *N*ot *J*ust *A*nother *B*lack *L*ist.
28 Jul 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the NJABL blocklist shuttered years ago and provides a link to a web archive showing it shutdown over a decade ago. They also note that A records popped back up on the domain this week after 10 years without DNS records.
28 Mar 2024 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Experts agree that NJABL, while historically significant, is no longer relevant for email deliverability. The consensus is that its lack of updates and maintenance renders it obsolete. Relying on outdated lists like NJABL can lead to false positives, negatively impacting deliverability. Focusing on actively maintained blocklists is the recommended approach.
Key opinions
- Obsolete: NJABL is no longer relevant due to lack of updates and maintenance.
- False Positives: Using NJABL can lead to false positives, hindering deliverability.
- Focus on Actively Maintained Lists: It's crucial to use current, actively maintained blocklists.
Key considerations
- Avoid NJABL: Refrain from using NJABL due to its outdated status.
- Prioritize Current Lists: Prioritize actively maintained blocklists for accurate spam filtering.
- Regularly Review: Regularly review and update blocklist usage to ensure relevance and accuracy.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of using current blocklists. She highlights that relying on outdated lists like NJABL can lead to false positives and negatively impact deliverability.
21 Sep 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that NJABL was significant in its time but is no longer relevant due to a lack of updates and maintenance. He recommends focusing on actively maintained blocklists.
2 Aug 2022 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
Email deliverability documentation indicates that NJABL is no longer actively used or considered relevant by major blocklist providers like Spamhaus and MultiRBL. While mailradar provides historical context, it doesn't reflect the current status. The overall consensus is that NJABL is outdated and not a trustworthy source for modern spam filtering.
Key findings
- Not in Major Blocklists: Spamhaus and MultiRBL do not include NJABL in their blocklists.
- Not Actively Maintained: Documentation suggests that NJABL is no longer actively maintained.
- Historical Context Only: Some sources provide historical context, but lack current status information.
Key considerations
- Do Not Rely on NJABL: Avoid relying on NJABL for email deliverability decisions.
- Use Current Blocklists: Use actively maintained and reputable blocklists for spam filtering.
- Evaluate Blocklist Relevance: Regularly evaluate the relevance and trustworthiness of blocklists.
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that NJABL is not currently included in their blocklists, suggesting that it's no longer actively maintained or considered relevant for modern spam filtering.
3 Dec 2021 - Spamhaus
Technical article
Documentation from MultiRBL indicates that NJABL is no longer a part of their combined RBL (Real-time Blackhole List) services, meaning it's not considered an active or trustworthy source.
22 Dec 2024 - MultiRBL.valli.org
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