The Abusive Hosts Blocking List

The Abusive Hosts Blocking List is an abuse tracking and filtering system developed by The Summit Open Source Development Group, and based on the original Summit Blocking List (2000-2002).

DNSbl and RHSbl lists

The AHBL operates several DNSbl lists and one RHSbl list for use in various types of services. While most of the data are automatically added and removed, the AHBL prefers to manage certain categories by hand for accuracy.

The DNSbl list was developed for use in SMTP services and is "a real-time blocking system. This means that data are collected from various sources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in real time, and merged into our database." [http://www.ahbl.org/docs/howitworks.php] The data include spam sources, open proxies, open relays, DDoS drones, Usenet spam sources, and the controversial Shoot On Sight listing policy.

The IRCbl list is a reduced version of the DNSbl that does not include spam sources or other data unnecessary for use in IRC networks and other chat systems.

The RHSbl list is domain-based rather than ip4r. It includes domains owned and/or operated by spammers, known abusive domains, and domains that are not used to send e-mail (on request of the domain owner). It is commonly used to block domains in the From: address of e-mail, as well as SURBL type systems that scan the links in e-mail.

The TORbl list is an ip4r based list of Tor (anonymity network) nodes. It includes all Tor nodes, including entrance, transit, and exit nodes on the Tor network. As the list contains entrance and transit nodes, not just exit nodes, AHBL recommends against using the TORbl for e-mail blocking purposes. [http://www.ahbl.org/docs/torbl.php] [http://www.ahbl.org/notices/tor.php]

Controversy

Several of the AHBL's actions since its creation have led to harsh criticism from other members of the spam fighting community for being overly aggressive and unreasonable. One such example is the complete blocking of Spain's largest Internet service provider, Telefonica.es, for more than 6 months "because of the ever increasing amount of spam and illegal 419 coming from rima-tde.net IP space." [http://www.ahbl.org/notices/setel.php] The AHBL has also publicly spoken out against the Spamhaus .Mail ICANN proposal. [http://groups.google.com/group/news.admin.net-abuse.email/msg/e97c042d7660e7b3?dmode=source&hl=en]

The second major source of controversy comes from the AHBL's Shoot On Sight listing policy, which is commonly used by its administrators to force ISPs to take action against entities that the AHBL considers to be abusers, and against entities that make legal or "Cart00ney" threats against the AHBL or similar organizations.

AHBL in court

coville Et Al., vs. Bruns Et Al.

After threatening them with a lawsuit for years, on December 17, 2005 Richard Scoville of FreeSpeechStore.com sued the AHBL, SOSDG, and associated individuals in Bexar County, Texas for $3.525 million US [http://www.ahbl.org/legal/scoville/courtdocs/SUIT.pdf] , claiming damage for personal humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, and other damages relating to his business. The suit was dismissed [http://www.ahbl.org/legal/scoville/courtdocs/DISMISSAL.pdf] January 6, 2006 for lack of jurisdiction [http://www.ahbl.org/legal/scoville/courtdocs/DSAPP.pdf] .

ee also

*E-mail spam
*Anti-spam techniques (e-mail)

External links

* [http://www.ahbl.org The Abusive Hosts Blocking List]
* [http://www.ahbl.org/docs/ Abusive Hosts Blocking List listing policies]
* [http://www.ahbl.org/legalfund/ AHBL Page on FreeSpeechStore lawsuit]