How to Check if Your Website has a Dirty IP

Having a Dirty IP can severely impact your website’s reputation, even if you haven’t done anything wrong. This tutorial will show you how to check your website’s IP reputation and what steps to take if you discover your IP has a tainted history.

What is a Dirty IP?

A Dirty IP refers to an IP address that has been flagged or blacklisted for engaging in malicious or suspicious activities. This could include sending spam emails, hosting phishing sites, or distributing malware. Even if you haven’t engaged in any of these activities, your website could still be associated with a dirty IP if you’re using shared hosting or an IP that was previously used for nefarious purposes.

Note: Having a dirty IP can lead to your website being blacklisted by search engines, affecting your SEO rankings and email deliverability.

Finding Your IP Address

1. Log in to your hosting account. For this example, we’ll use Hostinger.
2. Navigate to the section where your IP address is displayed. It usually looks like a series of numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.0.1).

Tip: If you can’t find your IP address, contact your hosting provider’s support team to get it.

Checking IP Reputation

1. Search for “IP reputation checker” on Google.
2. Choose a reputable platform for checking IP reputation. Some popular options are:
   • Talos Intelligence
   • Cyren IP Reputation
   • APIVoid
   • MX Toolbox
3. Enter your IP address into the search bar of the chosen platform.
4. Click the button to start the check (usually labeled “Check” or “Search”).

Note: It’s a good idea to check your IP on multiple platforms for a comprehensive view.

Interpreting the Results

1. Review the results for any red flags or blacklist mentions.
2. Look for terms like “suspicious” or “proxy connection”. These may not necessarily mean your IP is bad, but they warrant further investigation.

Tip: A “new” or “unknown” IP is generally a good sign, as it means the IP hasn’t been misused in the past.

What to Do if Your IP is Dirty

1. Contact your hosting provider’s support team immediately.
2. Request a new server with a clean IP.
3. Migrate your website to the new server.

Note: If your hosting provider is unresponsive or unwilling to help, consider switching to a more reliable host.

Conclusion

Checking your website’s IP reputation is an essential step in maintaining a healthy online presence. If you find that your IP is dirty, take immediate action to resolve the issue and protect your website.