Key highlights
- Understand why your IP address is blacklisted by internet security systems due to malware, high volume activity, failed access attempts or suspicious network behavior across servers and services.
- Learn how a short period of unusual traffic, repeated login failures or activity from other users on the same IP address can trigger blocks across several blocklists.
- Explore how to regain access by taking immediate action to secure your network, website and devices before you request removal from the blacklist or contact your ISP.
- Uncover how blacklist systems protect users and services by limiting server access when an IP address sends risky signals or matches known attack patterns.
- Know how to prevent future issues by monitoring your IP address reputation, reducing malware risks and managing high-volume activity across your website and internet services.
Seeing an IP blacklist warning can feel alarming, especially when you receive a message like “access denied: your IP address is flagged for possible suspicious internet activity.” This does not necessarily mean your activity was malicious.
In many cases, it indicates a temporarily blacklisted IP address, where automated security systems block access after detecting behavior that looks unusual or potentially risky. The goal is to protect accounts, users and systems.
Sometimes, however, normal and legitimate activity is mistakenly flagged. So what actually counts as suspicious internet activity, and how can you quickly regain access if your IP ends up on a blacklist? We will learn about it in this article. Let us start by understanding the typical circumstances under which an IP address gets blacklisted.
TL;DR
- If your IP is blacklisted, it is usually due to spam activity, malware or suspicious access patterns.
- These blocks protect users and servers and are often temporary.
- Securing your connection and website is the fastest way to regain access.
- Identifying the exact trigger helps you avoid repeat blacklisting and speeds up resolution.
- Monitoring your IP reputation and login activity reduces the risk of future access issues.
Why is my IP blacklisted?
Your IP address can be blacklisted when activity from that address appears suspicious or harmful to internet services. Security systems monitor network behavior to protect users, servers and websites. If certain patterns are detected, access may be blocked automatically. The most common reasons include the following:
- Common reasons your IP gets blacklisted:
- Spam email activity or volume
- Malware or phishing links
- Failed login attempts
- Suspicious spikes in network traffic
- Shared network user behavior
1. Spam email
One common reason your IP address is blocked is that it has been identified as a source of spam or other malicious activity. This often happens due to:
- High volume sending: Sending a large number of emails in a short period of time often raises red flags with email providers and anti-spam programs.
- Email content with spam trigger words: If you often send out emails with spam-like keywords, suspicious website links, etc., your IP will probably be blacklisted by anti-spam systems.
- Lack of authentication: If SPF, DKIM and DMARC records are missing or incorrectly configured, email providers may have difficulty verifying that your messages are legitimate. This makes it easier for spammers to spoof your IP address. Using a professional email solution such as Bluehost Professional Email helps ensure proper email authentication is in place, improving deliverability and reducing the risk of your IP being flagged.
Visit the article Why Emails Go to Spam: Common Causes and Solutions to learn more.
2. Malware activity
If the IP address has been used to send out viruses or malware, it may be blacklisted. Other reasons for blacklisting include links to phishing attempts or activity flagged as suspicious or illegal. An IP address may also be blocked if it is identified as a proxy server used to hide malicious or illicit online behavior.
In some cases, an IP address may also be blacklisted due to previous violations of terms of service agreements or other policies set by the website or service provider.
3. Failed login attempts
Hackers use various sophisticated techniques to gain access to an account. One technique involves using a program to systematically guess your password until it gets it right. To identify this and other types of suspicious activity, our system monitors network activity and flags suspicious patterns. Then, depending on the type of activity, it will either blacklist the IP address or flag it for review.
The most common reason we blacklist an IP address is a high number of failed login attempts to your control panel, email accounts, site builders, SQL, SSH, FTP, etc., within a short period. This could happen if you’ve forgotten your password or if someone is trying to hack your account. Sometimes an IP address can be mistakenly blocked.
A blacklist status is often temporary. If your IP is blocked due to too many incorrect password attempts, try again in about two hours. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to reset your passwords. Check out how to create a strong password for a few tips.
4. Suspicious network activity
We monitor all kinds of traffic and connections related to your account. If we see a significant spike in activity from a single IP address that negatively impacts the server, we may blacklist the IP address as an attack.
5. Other attacks
If your connection is suddenly blocked and you don’t know why, someone else on your network may be responsible for the activity resulting in the blacklist. For this reason, we don’t recommend logging in to your account from a hotspot or public internet connection.
In some cases, legitimate connections may be blocked unintentionally. If you see this error on your home or work connection, try logging in again after two hours.
If the blacklist is still in place, it’s possible your IP address was blacklisted due to a false positive, something we can help you with.
What does it mean when your IP address is blacklisted?
When your IP address is blacklisted, it means systems have temporarily blocked it to protect against potential security threats. This usually happens when activity from an IP appears unusual or risky, such as repeated login failures, sudden traffic spikes or suspected spam behavior.
IP blacklisting is a preventative measure. It is designed to stop abuse before it causes harm. In many cases, the block is automated and temporary. Legitimate users can sometimes be affected, especially if the activity closely resembles known attack patterns.
What should I do if my IP is blacklisted?
There are steps you can take to resolve this issue. The first thing you should do is determine why your IP address was blacklisted. Once you have identified the reason, you can take the following steps to fix the issue and request removal from the blacklist.
- Secure your connection
- Secure your website
- Use anti-virus applications
Secure your connection
It’s important to note that prevention is key, so taking steps to secure your network and devices can help reduce the chances of your IP address being blacklisted in the future.
Before you contact us to remove the blacklist, you must find the source of the suspicious activity and secure your internet connection so it doesn’t happen again. Here are a few suggestions:
- Perform a malware and virus scan on your computers and devices that connect to the internet. If you need help deciding what software to use, we have some suggestions below:
- Secure the wireless access point on your router if it has one.
- If available, update your network password and set the password type to WPA2.
- Check for a software update. Security problems with specific devices are often addressed by the manufacturer through updates that typically need to be installed manually.
- Talk to the people who use your internet connection and ask a few questions:
- Is anyone running an automated script or program?
- Is someone repeating a manual task that may have resulted in a large number of connections from your IP to the host server?
- Has anyone sent out a large number of emails that might be considered spam, either due to content or volume?
Secure your website
One solution to secure your website is to use SiteLock. At Bluehost, we offer SiteLock protection with our plans. It automatically runs malware scans and keeps your website protected from cyber threats.
If you want more information about SiteLock, you can check out our article on what SiteLock is all about, which provides an in-depth overview of their services, including product description, website security and packages and features.
To keep your website safe and running well, follow these steps.
- Use strong passwords.
- Keep your software and plugins updated.
- Back up your website regularly.
By taking these steps, you can help prevent your IP from being blacklisted in the future. For best WordPress website security, pair SiteLock with CodeGuard.
Use anti-virus applications
Here are a few free, high-quality applications that can help you maintain a safe, healthy computer.
Windows
Mac
Linux
The table below breaks down the most common reasons an IP address gets blacklisted, explaining what triggers each issue and how it typically shows up in real-world scenarios.
Common reasons an IP address gets blacklisted
| Reason | What triggers it | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| Spam email activity | Email behavior looks abusive or automated | High-volume sending, spam keywords, missing SPF/DKIM/DMARC |
| Malware or phishing activity | IP is linked to harmful or deceptive content | Virus distribution, phishing links, proxy misuse |
| Failed login attempts | Repeated authentication failures in a short time | Brute-force attempts on email, FTP, SSH, control panel |
| Suspicious network traffic | Unusual spikes that strain or attack servers | Sudden connection floods, automated scripts |
| Shared network behavior | Another user on the same network causes abuse | Public Wi-Fi, hotspots, shared office networks |
How long does an IP blacklist last?
The time it takes to get removed from a blacklist can vary depending on the policies of the organization that manages the blacklist. In some cases, it can take only a few hours, while in others, several days or even weeks. In the meantime, it’s important to identify and address the cause of the blacklisting to prevent it from happening again in the future.
How can I prevent future blacklisting?
To prevent future blacklisting, we encourage you to take the following steps:
- Keep excellent email hygiene
- Strengthen your security measures
- Regularly check your blacklist status
Keep excellent email hygiene
- Maintain a clean email list.
- Avoid sending bulk emails in a short period of time.
- Monitor spam complaints and address any issues immediately.
- Utilize SPF, DKIM and DMARC records to authenticate your emails.
- Avoid using spam-like trigger words and suspicious links and subject lines in your emails.
Strengthen your security measures
- Run a regular malware scan on all devices connected to your network.
- Use strong passwords.
- Properly configure your firewall if you have one.
- Keep your software and plugins updated.
- Secure your internet connection with strong passwords.
Regularly check your blacklist status
- Check your IP address against common blacklists to identify issues early on.
- Use online blacklist tools to monitor your IP reputation.
Also read: How to Access Cpanel Error Logs for Troubleshooting
When should I contact support?
In many cases, waiting for the temporary block to expire is enough. If your IP is still blacklisted after several hours and you have secured your connection, it may be a false positive.
You should contact support if:
- The block remains in place longer than expected
- You cannot identify the source of the suspicious activity
- The blacklist is affecting business-critical services
Providing details about recent activity, login attempts or email behavior can help resolve the issue faster.
Final thoughts
An IP blacklist can feel sudden and confusing, but in most cases, it is a protective response rather than a punishment. Spam activity, malware, repeated login failures or unusual traffic patterns can all trigger automated systems designed to keep accounts and servers safe. The good news is that many blocks are temporary and can be resolved once the underlying issue is identified and fixed.
By securing your connection, protecting your website, practicing good email hygiene and monitoring your IP reputation, you can reduce the risk of future blacklisting and regain access faster if it happens again.
Using reliable hosting and professional email services, such as those offered by us at Bluehost, can also help simplify security management and reduce the chances of your IP being flagged in the first place.
An IP block is often a signal to pause, investigate and strengthen your security. And once you know what to look for, that “Access denied” message becomes less of a roadblock and more of a prompt to take control of your online safety.
FAQs
Your IP address can be blacklisted even when you have not intentionally done anything wrong. Many blacklisted IP addresses are flagged automatically by systems designed to protect users and services. Suspicious activity such as a high volume of traffic, unusual network activity, spam complaints or login attempts within a short period can trigger an IP blacklist. In shared hosting environments, IP addresses assigned to multiple users can also be affected by someone else’s actions.
Yes. Repeated failed login attempts are one of the most common reasons an IP address is blacklisted. Security systems monitor access to servers, email accounts and control panels. If too many incorrect attempts occur in a short period, your public IP address may be blocked to prevent a possible security breach. This IP ban is usually temporary, but it is important to reset passwords and secure your account immediately.
The blacklist status depends on the blacklist operators and the reason your IP was flagged. Some DNS-based blacklists remove a blacklisted IP automatically within a few hours, while others may require manual review. If your IP address was blacklisted due to spam, malware or malicious activities, you may need to request removal or request delisting after fixing the root cause. In some cases, your internet service provider may assign a new IP.
Yes. Malware infections, phishing sites or compromised devices connected to your network can cause your IP address to be blacklisted. If your website, mail server or email server is used for sending spam, hosting phishing links or spreading malicious software, blacklist databases may flag your public IP to protect users. This can also affect other services, including email deliverability and website access.
The first step is to determine why your IP address is blacklisted. Check for malware, review recent network and login activity and secure all devices connected to your internet connection. Update passwords, scan your website and stop any high-volume email sending. Once the issue is resolved, you can contact your hosting provider, ISP or the relevant blacklist operators to request removal of the blacklisted IP.
To prevent future blacklisting, regularly check your IP blacklist status and address security issues early. Use strong passwords, secure your website and monitor network activity. Avoid sending spam, follow email best practices and configure DMARC records and other email authentication settings to reduce spam complaints. Maintaining good website security and email hygiene helps protect your IP, your users and your services over time.
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