Your IP is on the Barracuda blacklist (BRBL)

What it means

Barracuda makes spam filters used by many companies, schools and public bodies. It runs a public blacklist called the Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL), at b.barracudacentral.org. If your sending IP address is on it, servers that use Barracuda may refuse your emails, often with a bounce mentioning "barracudacentral" or "blocked using Barracuda Reputation".

Barracuda lists IP addresses, not domains. Typical reasons:

• Spam was sent from that IP, for example by a hacked account, website or infected computer.
• Emails were sent to Barracuda's spam traps (old or invented addresses).
• The IP has no reverse DNS (PTR), or a generic one that looks like a home connection.
• The IP is shared, and another customer of your provider sent spam.

Listings are automatic, based on what Barracuda sees in its own traffic.

Why it matters

Barracuda is a high-impact list. Your emails to companies using Barracuda can be rejected outright, and other filters also take BRBL into account when scoring your emails.

How to check

• Send a test email to the address on the home page /. The blacklist section of the report shows whether the sending IP is on Barracuda.
• Check an IP directly at /blacklists.
• Check reverse DNS: the report also shows the PTR of your IP and whether it matches.

How to fix it

1. Find and stop the cause first. Look for hacked mailboxes, compromised website forms or plugins, or unusual volume in your logs. Change passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
2. Fix your reverse DNS. Ask your hosting company to set a PTR like mail.yourdomain.com that points back to the same IP.
3. Clean your lists: remove old, unknown and bought addresses that may contain spam traps.
4. Request removal. Fill in the form on the Barracuda removal request page with the listed IP, an email address and a short, honest explanation of what you fixed. Removal is free, and you never need to pay anyone to be delisted.
5. On a shared IP (web host, small email provider), contact your provider: they must clean up the IP or move you to another one.

Barracuda usually handles requests within a day or two. If the problem continues after removal, the IP will be listed again, so do not skip the first step. With the paid dashboard, the blacklist removal section can guide you through requests.

Check that it is fixed

Check the IP again at /blacklists a day or two after your request. Then send a new test email from the home page: the Barracuda line should show the IP as not listed.