Last Updated: AUGUST, 2004

Why did You Get An Email That Directed You Here?
Either your internet provider or mail server's domain name and mail servers were recently used to transmit a large amount of spam or UCE (unsolicited commercial email). Due to this spam or UCE, your internet provider or mail server's domain name was added to our RHSBL, a real time blacklist of domain names. It is possible that a entry could have been mistakenly added, or imported as part of another list that went offline. The easiest way to find out, is to ask us, and we'll be happy to let you know why you're on the list. Note that it may take a day or two for us to get back to you if we're having a busy day!

What do the different RHSBL Numbers mean?
At present, there are a few different RHSBL codes in use:

RHSBL2 is used for testing. You should never see this code.
RHSBL3 is used for entries that are newly added (within 48 hours).
RHSBL4 is used for entries that we accept from our trusted partners and alliances.
RHSBL5 is used for entries that we have added ourselves.
RHSBL6 is used for entries that probably should not be listed, but continue to spam our users.
RHSBL7 is used for entries that are newly registered domains that have spammed our spam traps.
RHSBL8 is used for hosting providers who are unable or unwilling to deal with their spammer customers.
RHSBL9 is used for automated temporary entries from where we receive a lot of spam.

Is the RHSBL A SecuritySage Service?
Spam has been a plague on our fair internet for a long time, and SecuritySage, the company that employs a large group of security consultants has graciously agreed to let those of its employees and consultants who want to maintain the list host it on a few of its servers.

How do you Identify An Email As Spam?
There are a variety of mechanisms that we use to identify spam:

1. Email that reaches our mailboxes that we know we did not ask for.
2. Email that is in violation of the MAPS Guidelines.
3. Email that is in violation of RFC 3098.

What Should You Do About Being Listed In The RHSBL?
Please contact your internet provider or mail server administrator and have them contact us at support@sso.ca . Note that if you, as a single user of a large domain contact us, please keep in mind that we will very seldomly make a change to the RHSBL based on one user's complaints. We will almost always require a communication from the party who is responsible for the internet provider or mail server's domain name and servers in order to ascertain that the problem with the server that allowed it to be used for sending spam has been resolved, or that the offending users have been dealt with.

RHSBL9 is described as automated. Is this not dangerous?
We use many mechanisms to detect spam coming into our spam traps. Depending on the number of spam messages we receive and in what timeframe, entries could be added for periods of 1 to 14 days. Most of these entries are checked or confirmed by one of the admins before they are added to the list. For entries in this category (RHSBL9), the removal criteria is simply a matter of someone asking us.

What About White Lists?
Domains that are removed from our lists, or that are vouched for by other anti-spam organizations are added to white lists, so if there ever are spam reports about them, the appropriate person will be notified directly and the period before we would list such a domain (assuming we haven't heard back from anyone) is increased from a few days to 2 weeks.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. We provide our RHSBL for free to whoever wants to use it.
2. We have no control over whoever uses the RHSBL lists.
3. If you need immediate action taken due to one of our spam rules, please contact your internet or mail service provider.
4. We provide FREE email support on OUR OWN spare time for people with questions about implementing our filters.
5. We are very nice people who like to help others, but when we're working on our own free time, we expect you to be polite.
6. If you are rude, threatening, or insult us, we will probably be VERY sarcastic in our replies.

How Are Domains Added To The RHSBL?
The criteria for listing a domain in the RHSBL are one or more of the following conditions being true:

1. The whois information for the client and/or sender domain is invalid.
2. The client and/or sender domains cotain a word relating to offers, promotions, ads, specials, opt-in lists, or sex.
3. The web site for the domain:
• is related to e-mail marketing, offers, promotions, ads, specials, opt-in lists, or sex.
• is blank and has been in existence (as per whois data) for over 3 months.
4. There are over 10 spam messages per hour from the same client host.
5. Identical spam emails were sent to over 10 local recipients.

AND: After we've sent an email to the offending domain's abuse@ address there has been no response for three days.

OR: The response from the offending domain's representative is that they will not even acknowledge that they have a spam problem, and refuse to accept a redirect of all the spam we receive from them.

How Are Domains Removed From The RHSBL?

1. The offending domain's owner and/or operator and/or administrator initiates contact with us, and:
• inform us that they have corrected the issues that permitted spam to be sent from their servers or domains.
• we determine that this domain should not have been added to the RHSBL.
• identify themselves as repentant sinners, and ask forgiveness.
• indicates that they intend to work on their spam problem.
2. The offending domain is identified as an internet service provider (with many valid users) and:
• intends to implement an anti-spam solution in the near future.
• can show that they are making an effort to deal with their spammer users.
3. There have been no spam messages received from the offending domain for at least 90 days.

How Many People Use The RHSBL?
Being as we have a lot of secondary servers for the DNS zone, we can't accurately determine how many servers make use of our RHSBL. We're pretty sure that there are a lot of them.

How can I Use The RHSBL?
Please see the RHSBL anti-spam guide for details.

Why are your spam filters free?
We don't like spam. Jeffrey Posluns, the person who started the spam filtration projects a few years ago believes that for every spam email that he helps prevent from reaching someone, his good karma is increased.

Is Sending Spam Illegal?
While most of us would like for it to be illegal, it does depend on where you live - and especially where the spammers and their servers are located. Please see the Spam Laws web site for more information about laws and legislations across the globe.