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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11There is no single, universal “domain blacklist.” Google Safe Browsing checks whether a hostname is considered dangerous, Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL) evaluates domain reputation, MXToolbox checks a sending mail-server IP against email blocklists, and Sucuri SiteCheck scans a website for visible malware and related problems. Choose the checker that matches your symptom, then corroborate a serious alert with at least one other relevant source.
What “blacklisted domain” can mean
Security products use similar language for different data and methods. Before entering a domain, decide which object is implicated:
| Question | Object checked | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| Will browsers warn visitors? | Hostname or fully qualified domain name | Google’s Safe Browsing assessment of dangerous-site status. |
| Does the domain have a poor reputation? | Domain | Spamhaus DBL reputation and listing data; DBL lists domains, not IP addresses. |
| Why is email being rejected? | Sending mail-server IP | Presence on DNS-based email blocklists; this is a deliverability signal, not a malware verdict. |
| Could the site itself be compromised? | URL and page content | A scanner looks for known malware, malicious code, redirects, errors and outdated software. |
A “clean” answer is therefore narrow. A domain can pass Google’s check while its mail IP is listed, or pass a reputation lookup while serving an undetected compromise.
Best tools by the problem you are trying to solve
1. Google Safe Browsing Site Status — browser-warning investigation
Use the Google Safe Browsing Site Status diagnostic when Chrome or another Google-integrated product shows an unsafe-site warning, or when you need Google’s assessment before asking why visitors are blocked. Google says Safe Browsing warns users before they navigate to dangerous sites or download harmful files and notifies webmasters when sites are compromised. Its FAQ defines a website as a hostname or fully qualified domain name and says sections of its web index are scanned daily. That cadence applies to Google’s system, not to every checker.
#1 Best Overall
2. Spamhaus Domain Reputation and DBL — domain-level reputation
Spamhaus Domain Reputation is appropriate when a domain is suspected of phishing, spam, malware distribution or other abuse across reputation systems. Spamhaus says it combines signal intelligence and open-source intelligence with machine learning, heuristics and manual investigations. Its Domain Blocklist (DBL) lists domains, not IP addresses; it is continually updated and served from more than 80 mirrors worldwide. If your mail server is implicated, perform an IP-focused check as well—DBL membership is not an IP listing.
3. MXToolbox Blacklist Check — email-delivery failures
MXToolbox Blacklist Check tests a mail-server IP against more than 100 DNS-based email blacklists, according to MXToolbox. This is the right starting point for bounced messages, spam-folder placement or a receiving server’s block notice. Enter the public IP that actually sends mail, not only the website’s domain. MXToolbox’s broader Domain Health check also examines blacklist, mail-server, web-server and DNS issues. Its monitoring page advertises more than 30 tests every few minutes; the free product page states that free users may run one Domain Health check every 24 hours. Those limits and features can change.
4. Sucuri SiteCheck — visible website compromise
Sucuri SiteCheck is a free website malware and security checker. Sucuri says it checks for known malware, viruses, blacklist status, website errors, outdated software and malicious code, including suspicious links, redirects, iframes, JavaScript and spam in source code. It is a useful external scan, not proof that every backdoor or server-side compromise has been found.
A practical checking sequence
- Capture the exact alert. Record the warning text, provider name, hostname or full URL, timestamp and any listed IP address. “Domain blocked” without a source is not enough information.
- Check browser reputation. Run the affected hostname through Google Safe Browsing if visitors see an unsafe-site interstitial.
- Check domain reputation. Query Spamhaus DBL when the concern is phishing, spam or domain abuse. Treat a DBL result as domain data, not evidence that an IP is listed.
- Check the sending IP. For mail problems, identify the SMTP server’s public IP from your mail provider or headers, then run MXToolbox’s Blacklist Check.
- Scan the site. Submit the canonical HTTPS URL to Sucuri SiteCheck when pages redirect unexpectedly, show injected links or otherwise look compromised.
- Inspect your infrastructure. Review hosting access logs, DNS records, deployment history, CMS and plugin versions, administrator accounts, mail authentication and recent file changes. The checkers identify signals; they do not replace server investigation.
- Fix the cause before requesting review. Remove malicious files, close the exploited account or application, stop abusive mail, correct DNS and update software. Follow the specific list owner’s documented review or delisting process. No provider’s material establishes a universal removal time.
How to interpret common outcomes
Google warning, other checks clean
Prioritize the browser warning. Look for hacked pages, deceptive downloads, redirects or compromised third-party resources, then use Google’s webmaster notification and review process after remediation. A clean mail-IP result does not clear a browser warning.
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Spamhaus DBL listing, no browser warning
Investigate domain reputation signals such as phishing pages, spam links, abused subdomains or a recently compromised account. Because DBL does not list IP addresses, separately check every IP that sends mail or hosts relevant services.
Mail IP listed, website appears normal
Focus on outbound mail: compromised credentials, an open relay, an infected application or a shared-host neighbor can generate abuse. Work with the mail host, stop the traffic, secure accounts and then use the particular blocklist’s delisting instructions.
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Sucuri finds suspicious code, lists are clean
Keep investigating. A scanner can identify visible indicators while a new or private payload has not yet reached a reputation list. Compare clean backups, review server-side files and rotate credentials.
All checks are clean but users still report problems
Verify the exact subdomain, URL path, redirect destination and DNS answer seen by affected users. Cached results, regional DNS differences, newly deployed content and a third-party script can explain a mismatch. Re-run the relevant check after confirming what visitors actually receive.
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| Tool | Primary input | Method | Best next action after a positive result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Safe Browsing Site Status | Hostname or FQDN | Google dangerous-site status | Investigate compromise and follow Google’s webmaster review path. |
| Spamhaus Domain Reputation/DBL | Domain | Reputation intelligence and list membership | Find abuse or compromise; use the relevant Spamhaus process. |
| MXToolbox Blacklist Check | Mail-server IP | More than 100 DNS-based email blocklists (provider claim) | Trace the sending system, stop abusive mail and address the listing owner’s requirements. |
| Sucuri SiteCheck | Website URL | External content and malware indicators | Inspect code, CMS, hosting and credentials; clean and harden the site. |
Operational, privacy and reliability considerations
- Use the canonical target. Check both the apex domain and important subdomains when they serve different applications.
- Separate domain and IP ownership. A shared mail or hosting IP can have a reputation unrelated to your domain; an IP result should be escalated to the provider.
- Expect changing data. Blocklists and reputation feeds are updated continuously or on provider-specific schedules. Record timestamps and retest after remediation.
- Do not submit secrets. Never paste private URLs containing tokens, password-reset links or customer data into a public scanner.
- Automate carefully. Rate limits, free-use allowances and monitoring terms differ. MXToolbox’s stated one-free-check-per-day limit applies to its product as described, not to other services.
- Prefer corroboration. No independent, comparable accuracy benchmark establishes one checker as universally best. Use the source whose scope matches the symptom and confirm consequential findings elsewhere.
Or skip the browser setup
If you need a clean visual capture of the page while investigating redirects, banners or injected content, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. It accepts consent banners as a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets before capture; each step can be disabled. Only clean shots are billed: bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits cost nothing, and responses identify the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. This does not replace blacklist or malware checks; it gives you a reproducible page view.
One GET request returns PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);See the full parameter reference in the ScreenshotNeo documentation. Options include full-page lazy-image capture, CSS-selector elements, device and retina settings, custom CSS/JavaScript, clicks, waits, request blocking, headers, cookies, user agents, timezone, geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, chosen cache TTLs, signed links, asynchronous webhooks, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, usage data and an OpenAPI specification. An MCP server exposes take_screenshot, get_page_info and capture_pdf to Claude, Cursor and other MCP clients.
The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card. Paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots; every feature is on every plan, and yearly billing gives two months free. Sign up for the free plan.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
How do I check whether a domain is on a blacklist?
First name the system involved: Google Safe Browsing for browser warnings, Spamhaus for domain reputation, MXToolbox for the sending mail IP, or Sucuri for website-content indicators. Run the relevant check and corroborate a positive result.
Does a blacklist result prove a website is hacked?
No. An email IP listing may reflect abusive mail, a shared host or an authentication problem, while a reputation listing can reflect broader abuse. Confirm the exact provider, object and evidence.
Best Value
Can a clean result guarantee safety?
No. These services have different coverage, update schedules and visibility. A clean answer only describes that service’s current data.
Should I check the domain or the IP address?
Check the domain or URL for browser and content concerns; check the public sending IP for email delivery. Keep both checks when an incident spans web and mail systems.
The Bottom Line
Match the checker to the symptom: Google for browser safety, Spamhaus for domain reputation, MXToolbox for mail-server IP blocklists and Sucuri for visible site compromise. Treat every result as scoped evidence, fix the underlying cause, and verify again with a second relevant source.
Quick Recap
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