Blacklisted IP Address Allocations

[LivingWise]

I am a full fibre 150 customer. Recently my IP keeps changing and for some reason the one I get allocated is always blacklisted (I use MXTool box to check). This has the effect of locking out my incoming email via my domain servers and I have to contact my domain host to whitelist the new IP to get my email to pull through. The frequency of these changes is becoming worse - the last four dates were 30.10.24, 22.11.24, 26.12.24 and now today. Luckily my host is excellent and very responsive, but I need to find a way of stopping this happening as it is causing issues when I need to be able to receive incoming mail outside working hours. Does anyone have any suggestions please? 

[KeithFrench]

Just out of interest @LivingWise, don't you get any recourse with the organisation that has blocked your IP address to get it unblocked?

[LivingWise]

Many thanks @KeithFrench 😉

[KeithFrench]

I have asked one of TalkTalk's support to pick your thread up and investigate it for you.

They aim to respond within 48 hours (Monday - Friday) excluding Bank Holidays, but if more urgent you can always try the Service Centre on 0345 172 0088. The posts are responded to in time/date order, oldest first.

[LivingWise]

Hi @KeithFrench 

My issue is that I keep getting blacklisted IPs from TalkTalk. Turning my router on and off isn't going to make any difference to my issue if the IP I obtain from the refresh is also blacklisted. I've had four back-to-back black listed IPs, so I've rather lost hope that the next one won't be. I also cannot afford to keep turning my router off just to refresh in the hope of getting a non-blacklisted IP, that's just not practical. Moreover, as already explained, we do get power outages fairly frequently here - and often for longer than the time a UPS would run, so I've no idea how long my next IP will last even if I am lucky enough to get a non-blacklisted one upon a refresh. 

A static IP, as suggested by @Divsec could well solve the issue but that's at a cost.

Surely TalkTalk would like to know that the IPs they are using are blacklisted and want to try to do something about that? 

[KeithFrench]

Hi @LivingWise

@Michelle-TalkTalk has asked me to help you.

You need a new public or WAN IP address for your router. Check what your current one is, then try turning the ONT and router off for at least an hour. Then recheck the addres

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

@KeithFrench - do you have any additional suggestions please?

Michelle

[Divsec]

Hi @LivingWise the only other suggestion is not very good for Talktalk but maybe is for you and that is ultimately to switch to another ISP who offers a fixed IP. A bit extreme as they will be more expensive than TT.

I wonder if @Karl-TalkTalk has any thoughts about ddns (would it help in this case)?

[LivingWise]

Hi @Divsec, another great suggestion. Unfortunately, it won't solve the issue 100% as our power outages are often quite long. The last one was 8 hours, and the one before that 29 🙄 but it's certainly worth considering for those that are much shorter. I've added it to my wish list 😉

[Divsec]

Hi @LivingWise spending your money here but how about an uninterruptible power supply? I have no experience with them but they can be purchased for under £100?

[LivingWise]

Hi @Divsec, luckily my host (the very excellent YourNameHere 🙂) whitelisted the new IP within a few hours from notification so all mail is coming through again, but I will get a VPN set up to test. It doesn't help that we get power outages where we live so this knocks the router out and is often (though not always) the reason the IP resets, but it is immensely frustrating that every IP address TalkTalk allocates to me is always blacklisted (mostly by Spamhaus Zen and Barracuda, but often several others also) so unless TalkTalk can find a way around this, I need a contingency plan!

[Divsec]

Hi @LivingWise I hope it works for you, worth a try until the pros get back on Monday.

Please do let me know how you get on, even if it's not a success 😞 

[LivingWise]

Hi @Divsec Many thanks for your prompt reply and escalation. I have not used a VPN at all, so will certainly look into that. I was not aware that it could help prevent my incoming mail from my host server being blocked when the TalkTalk IP changes to another blacklisted one, so it is a great tip! Thank you also for the recommendation of Proton. I'm aware of them as a company of great reputation, so will do some research into their VPN offerings. 

[Divsec]

Hi @LivingWise I'm guessing you have tried using a VPN part or all of the time?

I use Proton free but have had good experiences with Nordvpn and others.

your post has been escalated and you should hear Monday.  In the meantime please check your community profile and add your landline number and/or account number so your account can be identified. Please don't post personal information here.