Why is my website link flagged as malware on LinkedIn and listed on Spamhaus and Fortinet?

Key findings

• LinkedIn's reliance: LinkedIn uses external blocklists, notably Spamhaus, to identify and warn users about potentially malicious links. A listing on these blocklists can directly trigger a warning on LinkedIn.
• MXToolbox interpretation: While MXToolbox may report a Spamhaus DBL listing with a confusing No IP queries error, the domain itself can still be genuinely listed on the Spamhaus DBL (Domain Blocklist). This indicates a problem with the domain itself, rather than an associated IP address.
• Fortinet flagging: A listing by Fortinet, often with a phishing label, suggests potential website compromise. Even if your content is legitimate, malicious redirects or hidden elements could trigger this detection.
• False positives: It is common for legitimate sites to experience false-positive malware flags. Rapid action to appeal these listings is often necessary.

Key considerations

• Domain reputation: Your domain's reputation is critical. Being listed on multiple blocklists signals broader trust issues, impacting all platforms where your link is shared. Regularly checking your email domain reputation is important.
• Direct appeal: The most effective way to resolve these flags is to directly contact the entities flagging your link, such as Fortinet and Spamhaus. For a Spamhaus listing, you should refer to their FAQ on DBL listings.
• LinkedIn support: While often slow, engaging with LinkedIn support is necessary to understand their specific flagging criteria and expedite resolution once external blocklist issues are cleared. More information is available in the LinkedIn malware prevention article.
• Proactive monitoring: Regularly checking for blocklist listings and potential malware on your site can help catch issues early. Tools for understanding how email blacklists work can be beneficial.

Key opinions

• Confusion with diagnostics: Marketers frequently find blocklist error messages, like No IP queries from MXToolbox related to Spamhaus, to be unhelpful and misleading, adding to the difficulty of diagnosing the real problem.
• False positive frustration: Many marketers report their legitimate blog posts or website content being incorrectly flagged as phishing or malware, despite their own checks showing no issues.
• Platform support challenges: Dealing with unresponsive or unhelpful support from platforms like LinkedIn is a common complaint, prolonging the resolution of flagging issues.
• Reputation consistency: Marketers often note the inconsistency in blocklist presence, where one domain might be clean while another, seemingly similar, domain faces issues.

Key considerations

• Comprehensive checks: Beyond common checks, marketers should use a variety of tools like VirusTotal to identify all blocklist entries and potential malware flags across different vendors, as seen in the Patchstack article.
• Understanding sources: It is vital to understand that LinkedIn, like other platforms, often leverages third-party blocklists, meaning resolution requires addressing the root cause at the blocklist level. For example, knowing which blocklists are used can guide troubleshooting.
• Proactive remediation: Even if content seems clean, investigate any redirects, hidden links, or compromised files that could lead to malware flags, as discussed in troubleshooting malicious content flags.
• Post-delisting verification: After appealing and removal from a blocklist, always verify that the platform (e.g., LinkedIn) has cleared the warning on their end. This may require follow-up with their support.

Key opinions

• MXToolbox misinterpretation: Experts suggest that MXToolbox's Spamhaus DBL error indicating No IP queries is likely an internal tool error or operator mistake when checking a domain against an IP-based blacklist.
• Direct engagement with platforms: Malware warnings on platforms like LinkedIn often originate from their internal security systems or third-party feeds, necessitating direct communication with their support to resolve.
• Fortinet as a primary contact: If Fortinet flags a site as malicious, experts advise that Fortinet is the correct entity to contact for resolution, as they are the source of that specific blocklist entry.
• Website compromise possibility: A phishing label from Fortinet could indicate that the website might be compromised and used to host malicious landing pages, even if the primary content is clean.
• Limited WHOIS impact: While public WHOIS might offer a slight advantage in manual blocklist reviews, experts largely agree that private WHOIS is not a primary cause for blocklisting and is not a definitive solution.

Key considerations

• Accurate blocklist checks: Always ensure you are checking the correct type of blocklist (IP vs. domain) for the specific issue. Using a blocklist checker correctly can save time.
• Spamhaus listings: A Spamhaus listing, particularly on the DBL, indicates that the domain has been observed in spam-related activities, suggesting the problem is inherently tied to spam. Understanding what causes Spamhaus blocklisting is essential.
• Investigate website compromise: If a phishing flag appears, conduct a thorough audit of your website for any signs of compromise, malicious code, or unauthorized redirects. Patchstack details what to do if your website is flagged.
• Contacting Fortinet: To remove a listing from Fortinet, directly appeal to their anti-spam or security services. Their antispam service offers solutions for detecting and filtering spam.

Key findings

• Multi-layered spam detection: FortiGuard Antispam employs a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to detect and filter spam, which can include identifying malicious URLs. This explains why a legitimate URL might be caught in broader detection efforts.
• URL/domain/IP blacklisting: Security services, including FortiGate, retrieve dynamic lists of malicious URLs, domains, and IP addresses from external HTTP servers. This means your website could be flagged if it appears on any of these aggregated lists.
• Behavioral indicators: Warnings, particularly Suspicious Page or malware flags, can be triggered by websites that redirect to unsafe content or spam pages, even if the primary content seems benign.
• Automated detection: Many systems, like Spamhaus DBL, use automated processes to list domains involved in the distribution of unsolicited bulk email. This can include domains used in spam messages, even if they are not directly sending emails themselves.

Key considerations

• Comprehensive scanning: Regularly scan your website for redirects, hidden scripts, or compromised content that might trigger malware warnings. Website flagged for malware by Google offers guidance on what to do.
• Understanding DBL listings: If your domain is on the Spamhaus DBL, even if you are not directly sending spam, it means your domain has been observed in association with spam. Investigate how this might have occurred. Check why your domain is listed on Spamhaus DBL.
• Review security logs: Examine your website's access and error logs for suspicious activity. Malware detection systems often flag sites based on unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized file modifications. Fortinet documentation on FortiSIEM Security Related Rules highlights indicators of compromise.
• Appeal processes: Follow the specific appeal or delisting procedures provided by Fortinet and Spamhaus. Each blocklist has its own requirements for review and removal.