Common Causes for the Error: “Access Denied. Your IP Address Is Blacklisted.”

Encountering an IP blacklist notification can be alarming, but it doesn't always mean you've done something wrong. This means we've detected some suspicious activity that might indicate a security breach, so we've blocked the IP address responsible for protecting your account. Unfortunately, sometimes, we unintentionally block legitimate activity. Keep reading to learn what kind of activity looks suspicious and what you should do if an IP address you're using has been blacklisted.

• Why is my IP blacklisted?
• What should I do if my IP is blacklisted?
• How long does an IP blacklist last?
• How can I prevent future blacklisting?
• Summary

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Why is my IP blacklisted?

There are several reasons why your IP is blacklisted. Here are some of them:

• Spam Email
• Malware Activity
• Failed Login Attempts
• Suspicious Network Activity
• Other Attacks

Spam Email

One of the common reasons for your IP address being blocked is because it has been identified as a source of spam emails 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 - Failure to properly authenticate (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records) makes it easier for spammers to "spoof" your IP, making it challenging for email providers to authenticate you.

Visit the article Why Emails Go to Spam: Common Causes and Solutions article to learn more.

Malware Activity

If the IP address has been used to send out viruses or malware, it may be blacklisted. Other reasons for blacklisting include being associated with phishing attempts, being flagged for suspicious or illegal activity, or being identified as a proxy server used to hide illicit online activities. 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.

Failed Login Attempts

Hackers like to use various sophisticated techniques to hack into an account. One technique uses a program to guess your password systematically until they get it right. To identify this and other types of suspicious activity, our system monitors all network activity and then flags suspicious activity 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'll blacklist an IP address is due to a high number of failed login attempts to your control panel, email accounts, site builders, SQL, SSH, FTP, etc., in a short time. This could happen if you've forgotten your password or if someone is trying to hack your account. Sometimes, an IP could 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.

Suspicious Network Activity

We monitor all kinds of traffic and connections related to your account. If we see a huge spike in activity from one IP address that's significant enough to impact the server negatively, we may blacklist the IP address responsible because it looks like an attack.

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.

Unfortunately, sometimes, we unknowingly block legitimate connections. 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 that your IP address was blacklisted on a false positive—something we can help you with.

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 to be removed 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:

1. 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:
2. 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 patched by the manufacturer, resulting in an update that usually needs to be installed manually.
3. 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. This website security tool can help you identify and correct security vulnerabilities on your website. SiteLock can scan your website for malware, viruses, and other security issues that may be causing your IP to be blacklisted. 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.

Use Anti-virus Applications

Here are a few free, high-quality applications that can help you maintain a safe, healthy computer.

Windows

• Avira Anti-virus
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Panda Free Anti-virus

Mac

• Avast! Anti-virus
• Avira Anti-virus
• Sophos Anti-virus

Linux

• Bitdefender Anti-virus
• ClamAV
• Sophos Anti-virus

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 other cases, it may take 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.

Summary

Learn what an IP blacklist is and why your IP address might be blacklisted. Some of the common reasons for an IP blacklist include sending spam emails, malware activity, failed login attempts, and suspicious network activity. The article also provides steps to take if your IP is blacklisted, including securing your connection, website, and using anti-virus applications. If you are experiencing an IP blacklist, start by identifying the cause and addressing the root cause to prevent it from happening again. To prevent future blacklisting, it is important to maintain good email hygiene, strengthen security measures, and regularly check your blacklist status.