What is the Kempt.net blocklist?
Still have a question, spotted an error, or have a better explanation or a source we should cite?
dnsbl.kempt.net checks IPs. Kempt.net runs it.
What the operator says
"to catch and react to new hosts used for spamming purposes" Kempt.net DNSBL, read 1 Nov 2026.
What it really measures
Speed. It goes after new spam sources within minutes and leaves known ones to bigger lists. It judges how mail is sent and which addresses it goes to, not what it says.
Why you might be there
Kempt says the commonest cause is an infected machine sending spam. After that come an open relay, or one of your users sending spam through your server.
What to think about
A first listing lasts a day, and each repeat lasts longer. So asking for removal without a fix makes things worse.
How to get off it
Fix it and wait, and the listing drops off by itself. To talk about it, email bl-remove@kempt.net with the IP, the times and sender addresses of any blocked mail, and either what you did or a request for more detail. If you are a normal user who got a bounce, go to your provider.
Want a hand getting this delisted? Here is how to write to a list's operator, or ask a person on our free SOS Hotline. Tell us the list and the IP or domain, and we reply within 48 to 72 hours.
A separate job: cleaning your list does not remove a listing. If you also want to know who on your list is safe to send to, clean your first 1,000 free.
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