SpamRATS

SpamRats Usage - Most Common Lists

SpamRats has many different types of lists available in RBL format for special usage, but for most mail servers you want to at least be using the following lists. Feel free to click on the links below for more for more detailed information on each of the following lists we will discuss here..

If you are already familiar with how to use RBL's the only thing you should consider, is to make sure that you can access our RBL Mirrors, you should use an API key as part of your DNS requests. Instead of querying

1.1.168.192.spam.spamrats.com

you would use

1.1.168.192.[YOUR_API_KEY].spam.spamrats.com

If you are familiar with this method, register an API Key first, registration is free. Our RBL's are free to use for most people, unless you are a larger organization with very high query rates, or providing commercial email protection services. (Don't worry, we will let you know) For more information on what qualifies for complimentary/free access.. please review our Terms of Service.

.. Rest Assured, we never share or sell your personal information ..

For comprehensive information about SpamRATS RBL capabilities and methodology, we recommend consulting our technical whitepaper or our Information for Email Providers.

Recommended Usage

SpamRATS IP Reputation lists are designed for use by mail server applications unless explicitly specified otherwise. The service should be utilized to verify the IP address of the remote connecting server (i.e., the IP address of the external server establishing connection to your mail server).

Usage Caveats and Gotchas

The following implementations are not recommended and may result in legitimate traffic disruption:

  • Checking IP addresses used in transit (from email headers)
  • Validating 'A' records of domains (including From address domains and URLs)
  • Non-mail related applications (website traffic monitoring, server traffic analysis)

We have other lists that can be used for general IP reputation, but these four lists should be used for email flows only. The ONLY in transit IP you can check is the X-Originating-IP against RATS-AUTH, not against the other RATS discussed here.

Service Implementation

SpamRATS IP Reputation lists utilize standard RBL protocols supported by most mail server platforms, ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.

For incoming email protection, we recommend implementing the following lists:

  • RATS-Dyna - use "[YOUR_API_KEY].dyna.spamrats.com"
  • RATS-NoPtr - use "[YOUR_API_KEY].noptr.spamrats.com"
  • RATS-Spam - use "[YOUR_API_KEY].spam.spamrats.com"

For protection against suspicious logins to be used at Authentication checks in a mail server:

  • RATS-Auth - use "[YOUR_API_KEY].auth.spamrats.com"

RATS-Auth can be used to block ANY authentication attempts, whether SMTP, IMAP, POP, or even other services such as Web forms. It is not strictly limited to mail servers.

Alternatively you can also perform a single query to our RATS-All RBL instead of making a separate query for each SpamRATS RBL (dyna, noptr, spam, auth). One query can provide you with the information on whether it is listed in one of the above RBLs. This reduces the bandwidth usage and latency on both sides. However we don't suggest this for most users.

  • RATS-All - use "[YOUR_API_KEY].all.spamrats.com"
    • 127.0.0.36 (RATS-Dyna)
    • 127.0.0.37 (RATS-NoPtr)
    • 127.0.0.38 (RATS-Spam)
    • 127.0.0.43 (RATS-Auth)

Important: Please remember that you will NOT be able to use Open Resolvers on email servers, or to query our data. You should use your own DNS servers (or a local resolver) in place that clearly identifies who is making the query (PTR Records), as well as a API key before we can allow you access to the SpamRATS DNSBL Public Mirrors. Please Contact Us for information about our Commercial subscriptions which includes alternate ways to access our data.

Blocked Users

You may find that your ability to query the SpamRATS DNSBL Public Mirrors has been restricted. This could be due to the usage not falling within our Terms of Service. Before restricting any queries we try to reach out via email. Please check to see if you received an email from sales@mthreat.com at your public email address. If you have received the message, please reply to it.

If you would like to continue using the SpamRATS RBLs, please contact us and include the IP(s) of your email server AND the DNS servers you are using to query in your email.

Specific Email Instructions

SpamRats works like any other RBL Implementation, however if you are new to using RBL's these tips below might help you. Select your MTA or software for guidance:

By all means, if you have instructions for an email server or software implementation not listed here, or need help configuring something not on the list, please let us know. We take all contributions, remember much of what we do we don't get paid for. If you enjoy what we do for the internet, please let us know, a 'pat on the back' is always welcome.

Many thanks to our Sponsors, Subscription Holders, Users and Contributors.