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Trying to get google to unblock us
Question asked by Jeff Wilson - 2/9/2016 at 4:36 PM
Answered
Hi everyone,
 
Our domain has been block by Gmail for quite some time despite all tries to remedy it. We have decided to change IP addresses in hopes this does the trick. Is there anything out there that can advise us what to do so can try to avoid getting blocked again? It originally happened when a user got some malware and then robotically spammed the world. We of course shut it down and changed the passwords and all is OK but we can't persuade Google to unblock us.
 
Thanks much in advance!

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Bruce Barnes Replied
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Google routinely [read as all the time] ignores such requests.
 
If you can post, or PM to me:
 
  • the fully qualified domain name [FQDN] used by your SmarterMail server, and;
  • the SENDING e-mail address - the one which caused the original probleml;
 
I can run some tests to see if Google might still have a valid reason to keep blocking you.
 
In the meantime, make certain you have the following in place:
 
  • rDNS mapping for the FQDN of your SmarterMail server - that's the one to which the SmarterMail e-mail software is licensed to;
  • SPF, for ALL of your hosted domains - including, the PRIMARY SmarterMail server;
  • DKIM records, for EVERY domain:
    • must be generated within each domain by SmarterMail;
    • should be at least 2,048 bit certs;
    • must be added to DNS - see https://www.unlocktheinbox.com/resources/domainkeys/, for the required DKIM DNS records.
    • must be entered in DNS for both the FQDN of your SmarterMail server and every domain you host
  • DMARC records
  • Regestration of FEEDBACK RECORDS for both your SmarterMail FQDN domain and all hosted domains.
 
You should also consider throttling your domains, so if an account is hijacked, it will slow the outbound spam down, and adding an INTERNAL SPAMMER rule under SECURITY ===> ABUSE DETECTION 
 
Internal Spammer Rule under SECURITY ===> ABUSE DETECTION
Internal Spammer Rule under SECURITY ===> ABUSE DETECTION
 
 - Bruce
 
Bruce Barnes ChicagoNetTech Inc brucecnt@comcast.net Phonr: (773) 491-9019 Phone: (224) 444-0169 E-Mail and DNS Security Specialist Network Security Specialist Customer Service Portal: https://portal.chicagonettech.com Website: https://www.ChicagoNetTech.com Security Blog: http://networkbastion.blogspot.com/ Web and E-Mail Hosting, E-Mail Security and Consulting
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Jeff Wilson Replied
Thanks for the reply Bruce.
 
I took your checklist and started in looking at it all just to make sure everything was fine before I PM'ed you with the details. I feel so stupid in that I know that I put the spf and dkim records in my dns over a year a go but when I went to check, the records had vanished.
 
Disgruntled I put them back and what do you know, it worked! Great checklist for anyone having Google problems though Bruce and again, thanks so much for the help! Would not have even noticed an issue otherwise.
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Bruce Barnes Replied
Glad this was helpful for you!
Bruce Barnes ChicagoNetTech Inc brucecnt@comcast.net Phonr: (773) 491-9019 Phone: (224) 444-0169 E-Mail and DNS Security Specialist Network Security Specialist Customer Service Portal: https://portal.chicagonettech.com Website: https://www.ChicagoNetTech.com Security Blog: http://networkbastion.blogspot.com/ Web and E-Mail Hosting, E-Mail Security and Consulting
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Employee Replied
Employee Post
I love seeing threads like this! Glad to see the Community could help get your issue resolved. :) And thank you Bruce, for providing so many details as always. 

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