What is UCEPROTECT and why is it controversial?

UCEPROTECT operates three tiers of blocklists that escalate from individual IPs to entire network ranges. While the Level 1 list is generally considered legitimate, Levels 2 and 3 have generated significant controversy due to their approach of listing innocent senders alongside bad actors.

The three levels:

• Level 1 (dnsbl-1.uceprotect.net): Individual IPs that sent spam to UCEPROTECT traps. Relatively standard blocklist behavior.
• Level 2 (dnsbl-2.uceprotect.net): Escalates to /24 network ranges when "too many" Level 1 listings appear in that range. Your IP can be listed even if you've never sent spam.
• Level 3 (dnsbl-3.uceprotect.net): Escalates to entire ASN (Autonomous System Number) ranges when "too many" Level 2 listings appear. Can list millions of IPs based on the actions of a few spammers.

Why UCEPROTECT is controversial:

• Collateral damage: Levels 2 and 3 deliberately list innocent senders to pressure ISPs and hosting providers
• Pay-to-delist: UCEPROTECT offers "express delisting" for a fee, which critics call extortion
• No consent: You can be listed on L2/L3 through no action of your own
• Questionable efficacy: Many organizations refuse to use L2/L3 due to false positives

Impact Level:

• Level 1: Low-Medium. Some organizations use it, but less widespread than major lists.
• Levels 2 and 3: Very Low for legitimate use. Most mail administrators consider these lists unreliable due to false positives. However, some poorly configured systems still query them.

How to check: Visit uceprotect.net/en/rblcheck.php

Delisting from Level 1:

• Automatic after 7 days if no further spam is detected
• Free immediate delisting available if you fix the issue and request removal
• Paid "express" delisting also offered (controversial)

Delisting from Levels 2 and 3:

• You cannot directly delist - the listing depends on other IPs in your range
• Contact your **ISP**/hosting provider to address the spammers they're hosting
• Wait for automatic expiration (when L1 listings in your range decrease)
• Paid delisting available but ethically questionable to pay for someone else's spam

Recommendation: Don't panic over UCEPROTECT L2/L3 listings. Most receiving systems don't use these lists because of their high false positive rate. Focus your efforts on the lists that actually matter.

UCEPROTECT's approach is like quarantining an entire neighborhood because one house has a pest problem. Level 1 is reasonable pest control; Levels 2 and 3 are the reason most harbormasters don't trust their reports.