PSBL — Check, Delist & Monitor
Check if you're listed on PSBL (Passive Spam Block List). Listings auto-expire in 2-3 weeks. Monitor your IP reputation automatically.
Impact & Usage
Limited adoption — used mainly by smaller mail servers and individual operators, not by major ISPs.
Typical users: Smaller mail servers and individual operators; not used by major ISPs like Google or Yahoo
What Gets You Listed
IP listed when it sends email to a PSBL spamtrap or honeypot address; passive detection only
How to Get Delisted
- Check your listing status at psbl.org/listing by entering your IP address.
- Investigate why your IP sent mail to a PSBL spamtrap — common causes are compromised accounts, malware, or misconfigured forwarding.
- Fix the root cause. PSBL listings auto-expire within 2-3 weeks once no further spam is detected from your IP.
- If you need faster removal, submit a manual request at psbl.org/remove. Monitor with mxio Blacklist Check afterward.
Expected Timeline
2-3 weeks (automatic)
Auto-delist: Automatic expiration after 2-3 weeks if no further spam seen; manual removal request available via website
Common Causes
- Compromised machine on your network sending spam to PSBL honeypot addresses
- Malware or botnet activity from a server or workstation on your IP range
- Misconfigured mail server relaying mail to spamtrap addresses
- Legacy forwarding rules delivering spam into PSBL collection infrastructure
Prevention Tips
- Block outbound SMTP (port 25) from all machines except your designated mail server
- Scan your network regularly for compromised systems and unusual outbound connections
- Keep all server software patched and enforce strong authentication on email accounts
- Use mxio monitoring to catch PSBL listings early as an indicator of potential compromise
Overview
PSBL (Passive Spam Block List) is a spamtrap-based blacklist that operates entirely through passive detection. It maintains a network of honeypot email addresses that have never been used for legitimate correspondence. When your IP sends mail to one of these addresses, it is listed automatically. There are no volume thresholds or scoring systems — a single message to a spamtrap is enough to trigger a listing.
The practical impact of a PSBL listing is low. Major ISPs and email providers (Gmail, Microsoft, Yahoo) do not reference PSBL in their filtering. Its primary user base is smaller mail server operators and hobbyist administrators who have manually added it to their spam filtering stack. A PSBL listing alone is unlikely to cause noticeable delivery problems.
Where PSBL provides value is as a canary. If your IP shows up on PSBL, it means something on your network sent mail to an address that has never opted in to anything. That is a reliable signal of compromise — a hacked account, malware, or an open relay. The listing itself is low-stakes, but the underlying cause deserves investigation. Listings auto-expire in 2-3 weeks once spam stops, and manual removal is available through the PSBL website if you need faster resolution.
Monitor Your Blacklist Status
Get alerted the moment your IP or domain appears on a blacklist. Catch listings early, before they impact deliverability.
Set Up MonitoringRelated Blacklists
Check if you're listed on SpamCop. Listings auto-expire within 24 hours once spam reports stop. Monitor your IP reputation automatically.
Check if you're listed on UCEProtect. Listings auto-expire in 7 days, or pay 50 EUR for instant removal. Most major providers ignore this list entirely.