Blacklist

Updated: 03/10/2024 by Computer Hope

Alternatively called a blackhole list, blocklist, or deny list, a blacklist is a record of bad e-mail addresses or Internet service providers that send spam to a user or company. Blacklists are created and used to help prevent unwanted messages from getting to a user's inbox.

Tip

To get your e-mail domain or IP address removed from a blacklist, contact the administrator responsible for its maintenance.

Tip

Because "blacklist" may be considered offensive, consider using "blocklist" or "deny list" instead.

How many blacklists are there?

There are over 300 blacklists, with around 100 considered to be the most reliable and thorough for checking for spam senders and adding true offenders. Each e-mail service and security provider references one or several blacklists to determine if e-mails from a specific sender should be accepted and delivered to recipients. Below lists the top-used blacklist services.

Computer acronyms, E-mail terms, Internet terms, Security terms, Spam, Whitelist