Help! My Server Is Blacklisted By UCEPROTECT

Ensuring Proper Server Management and Email Deliverability

The Importance of Backups Before Making Changes

Before making any modifications to your server, it is mandatory to create a full backup. This is crucial in preventing data loss and ensuring quick recovery in case of errors. If you do not have an existing backup, follow these steps to secure your data:

1. Purchase the IONOS Cloud Backup – You can review available backup options and select the one that best fits your needs here.
2. Follow the installation guide – Proper installation ensures that your backup functions correctly.
3. Perform a manual backup – This step is critical before making system-level changes. A step-by-step video guide is available to assist with this process.

The Reality of Running a Mail Server

Running a mail server without understanding best practices is akin to operating a vehicle without a license—it’s risky, and mismanagement can lead to serious consequences, such as email blacklisting.

If you’ve found your mail server blacklisted on UCEPROTECT via mxtoolbox.com, it is essential to identify the real cause. Understanding the different UCEPROTECT listing levels will help you determine the best course of action.

UCEPROTECT Listings: Understanding the Impact

What UCEPROTECT L1, L2, and L3 Mean for Your Server

• L3 Listing: This affects entire provider networks, including major hosting companies like AWS, Linode, and DigitalOcean. However, UCEPROTECT L3 does not cause email delivery issues, and no major email providers use this listing to filter emails.
• L2 Listing: This is triggered when a significant number of servers from the same hosting provider are on the L1 blacklist. If your provider has a high number of problematic mail servers, your IP may be included in this tier.
• L1 Listing: This is specific to your server’s IP address. If you are on this list, your emails are likely to be rejected or sent to spam.

Why UCEPROTECT is Not the Problem

UCEPROTECT includes IP addresses from many web hosting providers in their Level 3 blacklist because these companies allow customers to:
✅ Set up mail servers without demonstrating expertise.
✅ Freely change IP addresses, sometimes as a workaround for spam filters.

This leniency enables some users—whether intentionally or not—to send spam, which leads to strict thresholds imposed by UCEPROTECT. Additionally, they require two separate IP addresses per mail server—one for clean emails and one internally marked as spam. Most hosting providers do not enforce this rule, making it challenging to comply with UCEPROTECT’s standards.

Furthermore, UCEPROTECT itself does not recommend email providers use L3 listings for blocking emails. Their official statement includes:

“By using Level 3 for blocking, be prepared to occasionally lose some required mails too. DO NOT BLAME US, YOU HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED!”
Source

How to Check if Your Server is Listed on UCEPROTECT

To check if your mail server is blacklisted, query your IP address on UCEPROTECT’s lookup tool:
🔍 Check here

This tool will indicate:

• If your IP is listed in L1 or L2.
• Reverse DNS (PTR) issues, such as:
  “WARNING: No Reverse-DNS (PTR) is assigned to your IP”

Resolving Email Deliverability Issues

If you are experiencing email sending failures or emails landing in spam, consider the following:

✅ Check DNS Records:

• Do you have a valid SPF record for your domain?
• Do you have a DMARC and DKIM record configured correctly?

✅ Mail Server Configuration:

• Are the correct hostname, ports, and credentials set up in your email client?
• Does your mail server require authentication before sending emails?
• Do you have an internal spam filter in place?

✅ IP Address Configuration:

• Does your mail server have two separate IP addresses (one for clean emails, one for filtered)?
• Are your website’s contact forms secured against spam (e.g., using CAPTCHA)?

⚠️ If you answered NO to any of the above and have sent emails from your domain within the last 7 days, you are at risk of blacklisting.

How to Get Delisted from UCEPROTECT

To restore normal email deliverability:

1. Fix all issues mentioned above (DNS, authentication, filtering).
2. Wait for automatic delisting—UCEPROTECT listings are temporary and usually expire once the issue is resolved.
3. Avoid paid delisting services—UCEPROTECT offers paid removal, but the best long-term solution is maintaining a clean email reputation.