How to Blacklist a Domain in Plesk?

There are a few ways to blacklist a domain in Plesk, depending on whether you want to block it at the server level for all mailboxes or for specific mailboxes. Here’s a breakdown of the methods:
Method 1: Server-wide Blacklisting (Blocks email to all mailboxes on the server)
This method ensures that no email from the specified domain will reach any mailbox hosted on your Plesk server.
- Log in to your Plesk control panel as the administrator.
- Go to Tools & Settings in the navigation menu.
- Go to the Mail group and click on Mail Server Settings.
- Click on the Black List tab.
- Click the Add Domain button.
- Enter the domain name you want to blacklist (e.g., evilspammers.net).
- Click OK.
- Repeat steps 5-7 to add more domains if needed.
Method 2: Blacklisting using the Spam Filter (Can be server-wide or per mailbox)
This method utilizes Plesk’s Spam Filter settings. You can configure it to mark emails from specific domains as spam.
Option A: Server-wide via Spam Filter Settings
- Log in to your Plesk control panel as the administrator.
- Go to Tools & Settings in the navigation menu.
- Click on Spam Filter.
- Go to the Black List tab.
- Click Add Domain.
- Enter the domain name you want to blacklist. To specify a domain, use the format *@example.com. To block a top-level domain, use *@*.com.
- Click OK.
There are a few ways to blacklist a domain in Plesk, depending on whether you want to block it at the server level for all mailboxes or for specific mailboxes. Here’s a breakdown of the methods:
Option B: Per Mailbox via Email Addresses
- Log in to your Plesk control panel.
- Tap on Domains > to the specific domain name.
- Click on Email Addresses.
- Find the specific email address for which you want to configure the blacklist and click on it.
- Go to the Spam filter tab.
- Click the Show Advanced Settings link (if available).
- In the Black list field, specify the domain you want to block. Use the format @example.com to block the entire domain for this mailbox.
- Click OK.
- You might also want to configure “What to do with messages classified as spam” on the same tab to “Delete all spam messages” for more effective blocking.
Method 3: Using Plesk Email Security (Server-wide)
This method uses the Plesk Email Security settings.
- Log in to your Plesk control panel as the administrator.
- Tap on Tools & Settings, then click Plesk Email Security > Server Settings.
- In the Blocklist field, enter the domain you want to blacklist. Use @example.com to specify a domain.
- Click Save.
Method 4: Using the Command Line Interface (for Linux-based Plesk)
If you have SSH access to your Plesk server, you can use the command line:
- You can connect the server with SSH.
- Use the following command to add a domain to the server-wide blacklist:
plesk bin mailserver –add-to-black-list example.com
Replace example.com
with the actual domain you want to blacklist. You can insert various domains by using a comma.
- To view the current blacklist, use:
plesk bin mailserver –info black-list
Important Considerations:
- Server-wide vs. Per Mailbox: Choose the method that best suits your needs. Server-wide blacklisting affects all mailboxes on your server, while per-mailbox blacklisting only affects the specified email address.
- Format: Be careful with the format you use when adding domains (e.g., example.com vs. *@example.com). The *@ wildcard is often used in Spam Filter settings to block all email addresses from a specific domain.
- Testing: After blacklisting a domain, it’s a good idea to test if it’s working correctly by sending a test email from an address within the blacklisted domain to one of your Plesk-hosted mailboxes.
- Review Regularly: Periodically review your blacklist to ensure it’s still relevant and doesn’t accidentally block legitimate emails.
- Effectiveness: Blacklisting is effective at preventing emails from reaching your server or specific mailboxes. However, spammers can sometimes change their sending domains, so it’s just one part of a comprehensive spam prevention strategy. You might also consider using other tools like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Choose the method that best fits your requirements and your level of access to the Plesk server. The most common and generally recommended method for server-wide blocking is through Tools & Settings > Mail Server Settings > Black List. For more granular control over specific mailboxes, the Spam Filter settings for that mailbox are the way to go.
