How do blocklists detect phishing URLs?

Blocklists aggregate phishing URL reports from: security researchers, automated crawlers, user reports, and threat intelligence partnerships. Confirmed phishing URLs are added to lists queried by filters and browsers.

Detection methods include: analyzing URL characteristics (domain age, registration patterns), crawling suspected sites for phishing page signatures, monitoring for brand keyword abuse, and tracking known phishing kit deployments.

Lists like Google Safe Browsing, PhishTank, and SURBL provide real-time feeds. Speed matters: lists must add URLs quickly before they're used and remove them when attacks end to avoid false positives.