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

It sounds scary, but you probably haven't done anything wrong. It means we've detected some suspicious activity that might indicate a security breach, so we've blocked the responsible IP address to protect 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?
  • Failed Login Attempts
  • Other Attacks
• What to Do if my IP is blacklisted?
  • Secure Your Connection
  • Secure Your Website
• Antivirus Applications
• How Long Does an IP Blacklist Last?
• Summary

Why Is My IP blacklisted?

There are several reasons why your IP is blacklisted. One common reason is that the IP address has been identified as a source of spam emails or other malicious activity. Additionally, 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 type of activity could be benign, as in the case of a forgotten password. Still, it could also be a symptom of malicious activity, such as a hacker trying to access your account. Unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to tell, which can result in an erroneously blacklisted IP.

A blacklist status is often temporary. If the IP address you're connecting from is blacklisted because you mistyped your password a few too many times, 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.

Other Attacks

Failed login attempts aren't the only reason why we'd blacklist an IP address. We monitor all kinds of traffic and connections for 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.

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?

Secure Your Connection

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 necessary steps to fix the issue and request to be removed from the blacklist. 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. 

Additionally, it's important to make sure that your website is secure and up to date. This can include things like using strong passwords, keeping your software and plugins updated, and regularly backing up your website. By taking these steps, you can help prevent your IP from being blacklisted in the future.

Antivirus Applications

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

Windows

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

Mac

• Avast! Antivirus
• Avira Antivirus
• Sophos Antivirus

Linux

• Bitdefender Antivirus
• ClamAV
• Sophos Antivirus

How Long Does It Take for an IP Address to Be Removed From a Blacklist?

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 root cause of the blacklisting to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Summary

Getting an "access denied" message with a notification that your IP address has been blacklisted can be frustrating. This message could appear due to several reasons, such as being associated with spam emails or other malicious activity, being flagged for suspicious or illegal activity, or being identified as a proxy server used to hide illicit online activities. The first step to resolve this issue should be identifying why your IP address was blacklisted. Once you have identified the reason, you can take the necessary steps to fix the issue and request to be removed from the blacklist. In the meantime, it's important to secure your network and devices to prevent it from happening again in the future.