Reasons for Blacklisting

• Sites that receive a "blacklist" classification are reported by search engines or individuals. Search engines like Google analyze websites to ascertain their danger to the general public, looking for malware distribution and phishing attempts. Individuals can also flag domains they perceive as threats, reporting them to Google and sites like CyberTopCops.com and StopBadware.org.
  
  

How It Happens

• While blacklists exist to protect the public from unscrupulous individuals, innocent people and websites can also end up on them. This usually occurs when someone hacks your site and plants malware or hijacks your email account for spam or phishing. In some cases, an advertisement on your site may harbor hidden malware, planted by the originator of the ad.
  
  

The Effect of Blacklists

• Most browsers review a blacklist before opening a site. If your domain appears on that list, the browser may refuse to open your page. Finding your site on a blacklist may prevent visitors from seeing it at all, and you may find your email blocked. In addition, your reputation and business may prove adversely affected by receiving a "blacklist" label. To check whether your site has been blacklisted, type your domain name into the box at BlackListAlert.org or MXToolbox.com.
  
  

How To Fix It

• If your website has been hacked and infected with malware, you must remove the harmful program before attempting to lift the blacklist label. Unfortunately, this isn't as simple as running an anti-malware program, since malware on websites is embedded in the code, which makes it difficult to remove. Your first step in rectifying the situation is to scan the computer on which you created your site to remove any malware, since it may have infected your site before you originally uploaded it. Remove your infected website and replace it with a clean backup copy. Delete every page and piece of code from the server before reuploading, as the hacker may have imbedded the malware deep within the core directory. Change all site passwords to ensure stronger security and don't allow your browser to save them.
  
  

Alternate Fix

• If you cannot find evidence of malware in your scans and searching, tools exist online that scan and remove malware from your website. Some are free, while others require a monthly fee. Qualys.com and UnmaskParasites.com provide free tools for scanning your website, and inform you of threats. If you're comfortable working with programming code, you may be able to delete the offending code yourself.
  
  

Removal From The Blacklist

• Once you've eliminated the threat, sign in to your free Google Webmaster account. Contact Google under "Diagnostics," "Malware" and "Request a Review" to ask for a review of your site and a return to your previous ranking. Removing your site from other blacklists may not be as simple, since many different blacklists exist, each with their own criteria for review and removal. Check your domain at MXTools.com, click "MX Lookup," then "Blacklist Check" to see which lists show your site. Click the blacklist's link, go to their site and follow the instructions to request removal.
  
  

Weaknesses

• Most hackers enter through a website vulnerability, an issue with hosting server or with third-party software such as a shopping cart. Some hackers install keylogger programs, which record keystrokes to capture usernames and passwords. With this information, hackers can log in to your site and plant malicious programs.
  
  

Prevention

• Assess and improve the security of your server and site with upgrades and careful monitoring. Online services are similar to your anti-malware application, constantly monitoring your website for signs of an infestation. Anti-malware software only protects the computer from malware, not your website. Contact your hosting provider to discuss your security concerns and take any actions necessary to prevent future hacking.