Status of DSBL: DEAD

The DNSBL called "DSBL" is no more. As of March 11, 2009, their website reports: "DSBL is GONE and highly unlikely to return. Please remove it from your mail server configuration."

Shutting Down Blocklists

As I often do, today I'm receiving reports about a DNSBL (which I've previously warned was dead) is returning false positive entries for those still using it today.

What does this mean?

Security Sage Update

It seems today as though the Security Sage domains have expired and/or replaced by "placeholder" pages by their registrar. Net result: Bad things. If you were still using their BL, you're probably having problems receiving inbound mail right about now.

DSBL Current Status: DEAD

DSBL, the Distributed Sender Blackhole List, seems to have gone missing. The list appears to have been in operation since at least May, 2002.

Help, we're listed on ORDB!

I've received multiple queries about this today, so I figured it would be wise to put up a quick message about this.

ORDB is a long dead blocking list, gone for more than a year.

Recently, they started "listing the world" -- meaning everybody using ORDB is now blocking 100% of inbound mail. Blocking lists do this to shed themselves of any excess DNS query traffic from sites who haven't yet ceased querying their data. It can very much be considered a slap in the face -- hey, we tried shutting down the nice way, but since you're not listening, we're going to make all your mail bounce.

But what does that mean? Why am I listed?

You're not actually listed on ORDB. ORDB is returning a "yup, they're listed" answer for any IP address that people check. Meaning the whole world is listed. Everybody, not just you. It's not because they hate you, it's because they want people to stop querying their DNSBL.

If you received bounces from somebody that suggests that you're listed on ORDB, here's what to do:
  1. Call that person on the phone, if you can. Tell them all of their inbound mail is probably not working, and won't work, until they stop using ORDB. Point them to this page for more information.
  2. Don't worry. The person who bounced your mail is suddenly now having problems receiving any mail at all. They're likely to figure this out very quickly and fix it. Try your mail again, in a day or two.