Blacklisted as a spammer - help

[mryang]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this has happened to a fair few of you who have had sites for a few years, anyway a couple of weeks ago our hosting provider saw a sudden massive bandwidth output from our server and with the superb support that they offer within 45 minutes they had identified the problem and resolved the issue - our site was back up and the particular security loophole closed.

The problem had been an out of date version of phpMyadmin on one of the sites on our server - a spammer had injected some code (sorry that might not be the correct term) and then left it to lie dormant for a couple of months then used our server as part of a denial of service attack against a site in the USA.

Anyway, issue resolved I then found out we are now listed as a spammer (our IP is listed) the site that is listing us is SORBS (Spam and Open-Relay Blocking System) and they want us to pay to be removed from their blacklist - even though we can prove the incident was not our fault and we resolved it straight away. Question is - is there a way to get removed for free / should I worry about being listed by this site??

All help appreciated.

[DaveSawers]

There are lots of these sites around that claim to protect internet users. They're mostly ignored because they're often inaccurate . Unless it's actually affecting your business, I wouldn't worry about it.

Wanting to charge you for removal from their list is blackmail, no better than those who want you to register obscure chinese domain names based on your company domain name.

[seopo]

Can you just change your IP address?

[HHI_Golf_Guy]

Ask your web host to move you to another server with a new IP address, preferably not in the same bloack as the old server.

[deepsand]

Are you certain that you've been listed as a "spammer," as opposed to being on their Dynamic User and Host List? See Spam and Open Relay Blocking System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[subhzash]

Originally Posted by mryang

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this has happened to a fair few of you who have had sites for a few years, anyway a couple of weeks ago our hosting provider saw a sudden massive bandwidth output from our server and with the superb support that they offer within 45 minutes they had identified the problem and resolved the issue - our site was back up and the particular security loophole closed.

The problem had been an out of date version of phpMyadmin on one of the sites on our server - a spammer had injected some code (sorry that might not be the correct term) and then left it to lie dormant for a couple of months then used our server as part of a denial of service attack against a site in the USA.

Anyway, issue resolved I then found out we are now listed as a spammer (our IP is listed) the site that is listing us is SORBS (Spam and Open-Relay Blocking System) and they want us to pay to be removed from their blacklist - even though we can prove the incident was not our fault and we resolved it straight away. Question is - is there a way to get removed for free / should I worry about being listed by this site??

All help appreciated.

Best option is change the complete hosting provider shift to new IP address.

[DaveSawers]

Because it's so easy to change IP address, does anyone even take any note of what SORBS and its clones do any more? If nobody uses their lists, then who cares if you're on one of them?

They don't catch the real spammers, just the unfortunate few like yourself who get their computer briefly taken over.

Spam filters now concentrate on the contents of the message itself, not its source.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by DaveSawers

Because it's so easy to change IP address, does anyone even take any note of what SORBS and its clones do any more?

Actually, yes.

ASPs that provide enterprise scale communications services, such as USA.net, use other ASP's apps., such as BrightMail and CloudMark, which employ IP blacklists.

[confettiguru]

Change your host. Don't pay blackmailers

[deepsand]

IMO, the epithet "blackmailer" is not here fairly earned by SORBS.

• It performs a necessary useful function.
• It is a co-operative non-profit operation.
• Use their data is voluntary.
• They do automatically review their findings.
• The "fine" for review is only for an expedited one.
• Said "fine" is not paid to them, but, to any one of various charities.

[firestone1029]

Originally Posted by seopo

Can you just change your IP address?

agree with you, chang IP address is a effective way. VPN is a useful tool.

[moneymen]

man install firefox and leave default options on (forgery blocked sites is on by default)
open your website in firefox and see if it opened normally or its reported as forgery
if its opened normally than u are not blacklisted regardless of what SORBS say
I could write here that your website is listed as spaming one and it wouldn't make any difference since its probably not

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by moneymen

... regardless of what SORBS say

SORBs plays no active role in blocking sites; neither is it the only blacklist provider. Therefore, SORBs has no way of knowing whether or not a given site is being blocked.

Originally Posted by moneymen

I could write here that your website is listed as spaming one and it wouldn't make any difference since its probably not

Since the OP has not identified the site in question, what site are you referring to?

[moneymen]

He doesn't need to identify it if someone wants to say he is blacklisted he will
What am trying to say as long as his site is normally opening for his users he shouldn't about being black listed somewhere unless its reported to google forgery...In one word no reason to be woried

[deepsand]

You're making no sense here.

Originally Posted by moneymen

I could write here that your website is listed as spaming one ... .

How can you make that statement without knowing the site in question?

Originally Posted by moneymen

What am trying to say as long as his site is normally opening for his users he shouldn't about being black listed ...

That's it? That's all that matters? And, how would he even know whether or not such is the case for all users?

Originally Posted by moneymen

... unless its reported to google forgery

Of what relevance "forgery?"

[moneymen]

First one don't take things literally its only abstract fact meaning anyone can put on some website that website is blacklisted
I can make site for "collecting" reported websites and put webproworld there as blacklisted for spamming and what would happen,nothing it wont get blacklisted coz some guy posted it on some of those websites.

As for 2 and 3
Report a Phishing Page
forgery and phishing,spamming and other dangerous sites including DDOs starting place and ones included in attacks are reported on same place on google thats why i used forgery,and that is the only blacklist that u could take care not to get on

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by moneymen

First one don't take things literally its only abstract fact meaning anyone can put on some website that website is blacklisted

If what you say is not to be taken literally," i.e., not as written, then it's being so said is of no value; we here are not mind readers.

Say what you mean.

Originally Posted by moneymen

As for 2 and 3
Report a Phishing Page
forgery and phishing,spamming and other dangerous sites including DDOs starting place and ones included in attacks are reported on same place on google thats why i used forgery,and that is the only blacklist that u could take care not to get on

Non-responsive, by virtue of failing to address the specific questions put to you.

The facts are that :

• The issue of forgery is wholly irrelevant to the matter at hand;
• The OP has no way of ascertaining the extent to which user are or are not able to access the site in question; and,
• Such accessibility is not a full measure of the effects of being blacklisted.

[moneymen]

Irrelevant ? i don't think so since it will only display "forgery reported" instead of website regardless if its spamming site or included in ddos or whatever

I was reffering to group since i said USERS if its not listed there and site can be opened normally His users can open it also unless they are blocked directly from his server

and i didn't said its full measure but that is a big one

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by moneymen

Irrelevant ? i don't think so since it will only display "forgery reported" instead of website regardless if its spamming site or included in ddos or whatever

It? What "it?"

Forgery is not the matter under discussion!

Originally Posted by moneymen

I was reffering to group since i said USERS if its not listed there and site can be opened normally

That some users can access site does not mean that all can do so; and, there is no way to determine such.

Originally Posted by moneymen

His users can open it also unless they are blocked directly from his server

Access can be denied by any agent which sits between his server and the requesting agent!

Originally Posted by moneymen

... and i didn't said its full measure but that is a big one

The bigger issue is that e-mails sent under his domain may be blocked.

[moneymen]

If u say so

[deepsand]

You've elsewhere been advised that civil behavior will stand you in much better stead than your current arrogant one, advice that you've clearly chosen to disregard.

Good luck with your attitude; you're going to need all that you can get.

[moneymen]

How can i do any civil behavior when u keep attacking me
am memeber on other webmaster forums also pro ones and people are normal but here for almost all posts i make ppl keep attacking me and u advice me to be civilised ?All i do here is try to help and in return am getting attacked so u and simmilar can get a wanted debate and make your post count bigger to stay famous on the forum

[deepsand]

You mistake factual clarification and/or rebuttal as being personal attacks.

Now, you engage in ad hominem attack by virtue as your statement re. post count.

I gave you some green rep. to get you out of the red, allowing for the fact that you are new here, with a comment offering 2 important pieces of advice, which you chose to, not merely ignore, but openly reject.

Any appearance of hostility here is of your own making.