How to remove your IP from Blockedservers RBL

Blockedservers is a free, self-service DNSBL. A listing is usually low impact, and you can request removal yourself once the cause is fixed.

Check your domain free → Blockedservers RBL removal tool ↗

What it is

The list, in plain terms.

The Blockedservers RBL is a free DNS-based blocklist published at rbl.blockedservers.com and operated by Goldfish Data through blockedservers.com. It tracks IP addresses seen taking part in abusive network activity and offers the data as a real-time threat-intelligence feed that receivers can query over DNS.

The service runs several zones alongside the main list — netscan.rbl.blockedservers.com for port and network scanning, spam.rbl.blockedservers.com for spam sources, and torexit.rbl.blockedservers.com for Tor exit nodes. The aggregate zone rbl.blockedservers.com returns a hit if your IP appears on any of them. It lists IP addresses, not domains, so it is your sending server that is flagged.

Blockedservers is not one of the major blocklists that most receivers consult, so its impact on deliverability is generally low. Some strict mail servers do reject on it, so if it is contributing to bounces it is worth clearing — and because removal is self-service and free, there is little reason not to.

Why you get listed

What a listing on Blockedservers RBL means.

Network or port scanning The IP was observed scanning ports or probing hosts across the internet. This is the most common trigger and is published in the netscan zone. It usually points to a compromised machine or an insecure service running on that address.

Spam or abusive mail The IP was seen sending spam or other abusive email traffic. Published in the spam zone. It often means a compromised account, a misconfigured application, or a mail server acting as an open relay.

Tor exit node The IP is a known Tor exit node, published in the torexit zone. If you did not intend to run one, a host on that IP has been configured as an exit relay and should be reviewed.

Compromised or insecure host The underlying cause of most listings is a machine that has been exploited or left insecure. Until that is addressed, the same behaviour will be detected again after any removal.

How to get removed

Delisting, in order.

Removal is free. Fix the cause first — a listing you clear without a fix comes straight back.

1 Look your IP up on the service. Check the IP at blockedservers.com using the IP reputation lookup. The per-IP page shows the listing, the recorded activity — such as port scanning or spam — and the recent violation history, so you can see which behaviour caused it.
2 Fix the cause first. Resolve whatever was detected before you ask for removal. Clean any malware or compromise, close open relays and open proxies, secure or reset abused accounts, patch exposed services, and stop any scanning traffic. Remove yourself before the cause is gone and the automated detection will list the IP again.
3 Request delisting from the IP page. On your IP's page use the Request Delisting action. This is self-service and free — you do not need to email an abuse desk. The service presents a confirmation step showing the IP and an estimated delisting time before you confirm.
4 Confirm and re-check. Confirm the removal request, then allow a short time for the change and for DNS to propagate before you query rbl.blockedservers.com again to verify the IP is clear. Only resume normal sending once the listing has cleared.

The official route

Straight to the source.

Removal happens on Blockedservers RBL's own tool — never through a paid service.

Blockedservers RBL removal tool ↗

How long it takes

Delisting is self-service. The service shows an estimated removal time of around 5 minutes once you confirm the request, plus a short wait for DNS caches to expire. There is no manual review queue, but if the underlying scanning or spam behaviour is still detected the automated listing will return.

Common questions

About Blockedservers RBL, specifically.

Does Blockedservers charge to remove my IP? No. Blockedservers describes itself as a free threat-intelligence service and delisting is self-service at no cost. Any third party offering to remove a Blockedservers listing for a fee is a scam — you can do it yourself for free from the IP's page.

How long does Blockedservers delisting take? The service shows an estimated removal time of about 5 minutes after you confirm the request, plus a short wait for DNS caches to expire. If the behaviour that caused the listing is still happening, the IP will simply be listed again.

Why is my IP on rbl.blockedservers.com? Because activity from that IP matched one of the service's zones — most often port or network scanning, but also spam sending or being a Tor exit node. Look the IP up on blockedservers.com to see the recorded activity and violation history.

How much does a Blockedservers listing affect my email? Generally not much. Blockedservers is not one of the widely consulted major blocklists, so its impact is low. Some strict receivers do reject on it, so if it is contributing to your bounces it is still worth clearing.

I delisted but got listed again — why? The cause was still present. Blockedservers relies on automated detection, so it re-lists an IP as soon as it sees the same scanning, spam or abusive traffic again. Fix the compromise or misconfiguration first, then request removal.

Who runs the Blockedservers RBL? It is published at blockedservers.com and operated by Goldfish Data as a free real-time blocklist and threat-intelligence feed covering scanning, spam and Tor exit nodes.

The bounce behind the listing.

554 5.7.1 message rejected → The permanent bounce a listing most often triggers — what it means and how to clear it. 550 5.7.1 blocked → A rejection on reputation grounds — usually the same listing, seen from the sender side. Blacklist checker → Re-check your domain and every sending IP once the cause is fixed.

Do not fix it blind.

See every list you are on and every authentication problem behind the listing in one 40-second check — then let monitoring tell you the day a listing comes back.

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