Finding out your website is on a blocklist is alarming — but it's common and usually fixable. Here's what it means, why it happens, and how to get removed.
What is a blocklist?
Blocklists are databases maintained by security companies, email providers, and browser vendors that track sites associated with malware, spam, phishing, or other malicious activity. When your site appears on one:
- Browsers show a warning screen to visitors
- Email from your domain goes to spam or is rejected outright
- Your site may be excluded from search results
- Antivirus software blocks your URL
Why sites end up listed
- Malware infection — your site was compromised and is distributing malicious code
- Phishing — a page on your site is collecting credentials
- Spam distribution — your server was used to send spam
- Shared IP contamination — on shared hosting, another site on the same IP was flagged
- False positive — no real problem, just an incorrect classification
Steps to get removed
- Fix the root cause first. Requesting removal without fixing the problem will result in re-listing.
- Request a review. Google Search Console has "Request a Review" under Security Issues. Most major blocklists have similar processes.
- Check email reputation separately. If your sending IP is listed, contact your hosting provider.
- Monitor ongoing. Recurring listings suggest an unresolved underlying problem.
threatprobe.app's free scan checks your domain against reputation databases and blocklists.