Email Issues on Shared Hosting

[AlanGuidry]

Perhaps someone here can I help. I have been on a shared hosting platform for some time with a UK web hosting provider. All has been fine until more recently. Emails I sent to any cutomer with an AOL email got returned as undeliverable. Assuming a problem with the recipient I called them to say there was an issue with their email address to which they replied that they had been receiving emails fine all morning from other people.

I spoke to my host and they mentioned that the issue was to do with someone on my shared hosting platform 'spamming' - bang we all get hit! It resolved itself after a few days but has happened again since. Is this a common issue with shared host packages as I have never experienced it with other hosting providers only this one.

 

[jacobc]

Hi Alan,

Sadly this is always a risk if a host on shared hosting. Speaking as a host, we have a series of management management processes in place to prevent this i.e. notifications to engineers if accounts send more than x emails etc. This is very effective in preventing the issues.

Let me know if you have any more queries.

Regards,

Jacob

 

[Kixo]

it can happen, and it can happen even if you have a private IP as some providers (AOL are kings of it) block IP ranges not just the offending IP. So its common and a shame but you will always be better off with the most private IP you can get

 

[PipeTen-Carl]

Yes, it is common to get blacklisted if you have insecure mail forms and your host does not take actions to protect its IP reputation.

We invest a log of time and money in ensuring our network is not a source of spam, resulting in better IP reputation, NO blacklists (in the last 5+ years) and pretty much guaranteed and timely deliver-ability.

 

[nahosting]

Hi Alan,
Yes it can be the downside of shared web hosting (however as mentioned it can also affect IP blocks so VPS and dedicated servers can also suffer) if the hosting company don't look after their email systems correctly. Strong password requirements, restrictions on number of recipients, SPF set up and good monitoring means we get very few issues.

 

[AlanGuidry]

Thanks for all the replies. So it appears that my host could have done things to mitigate against this. Good to know. How would I know then which host would guarantee such protection?

I assume if I migrated to a VPS then such problems with emails simply wouldn't occur? Is that correct?

 

[nahosting]

Hi Alan,
As mentioned you could still be affected on a VPS as ISP's tend to blacklist blocks of IP addresses. So if your VPS is on the same block as another VPS sending out spam you could be affected. Also VPS are are more likely to have their own mail servers and so are potentially less secure if the user has not got the correct knowledge. You also have the extra work of keeping the OS updated, firewall etc. Having said that you are more likely than not going to be fine!

Find yourself a good shared host (unless your site has outgrown a shared platform and requires a VPS) and you shouldn't experience these issues.

 

[Kixo]

you could look into smart host services, so your email server sends via a very trusted relay, i don't know about prices but i don't thinks its much. some of the guys above may know a large trustworthy provider?

 

[PipeTen-Carl]

How would I know then which host would guarantee such protection?

It depends exactly what you'd want a guarantee for, nobody is going to be able to actually guarantee 100% mail deliverability and timeliness unless they operate both senders and recipients mail services.

I assume if I migrated to a VPS then such problems with emails simply wouldn't occur? Is that correct?

It helps but its not a silver bullet.

Assuming your VPS provider gives you an IPv4 which has not previously been assigned to an abusive customer AND is not a newly assigned blocked which might still reside in old/misconfigured BOGON lists, then this removes the problem of sharing an IP address.

The reputation of that IPv4 being solely in your hands, it is then you and your providers responsibility to maintain that reputation through RBL/FBL loop subscriptions, responding timely to abuse requests, monitoring for unusual volumes (logins, successes, fails), filtering against any outbound abuse (anti-spam, RBL, URLBL, anti-virus) and ensuring any mail forms or software running upon it is not left open to abuse.

If you don't do the above then even on a VPS you can blacklisted (and infact with the way some RBL and scoring systems work, you are more likely to get blocked if allowing a couple of spams to pass on a low mail volume IP, than on a high mail volume IP (ratios)).

 

[ServWise]

A good host will have procedures in place to limit spammers from causing major problems, these include -

• Warnings about spam-like activity to admins to take action.
• Throttling of mass/bulk email so that even if it takes a while for an admin to fix the problem not much spam will have been sent and so less damage will have been done.
• Accounts with the major blacklists to allow quick removal of IPs if listed.
• and if needed the ability to easily change the sending IP of mail servers to bypass a major block if it happens.

 

[AlanGuidry]

Thanks so much for the valued feedback. I have been with my hosting company on a shared hosting platform for 7 years. First 5 years never experienced any issues with mail getting returned. Then about 2 years ago it began with all emails to AOL getting returned. This "blacklist" lasted about 4 days and continued on and off for a few months. Completely unacceptable when a customer is awaiting a reply and they assume I'm just not answering them (not their fault they're with AOL). Then a few months later the same issue this time with anyone on Yahoo! Emails just bounced back. My business (as I think common to any business these days) requires a reliable email service.

I mistakenly thought that if I went with a VPS then no-one on that server can affect me as it's mine (virtually!) But it seems from the feedback above that having a VPS can be no less (and in some instances more) of a problem than shared hosting!?

My website is small (about 100 pages) and all written in html - its basic and so doesn't require a special VPS environment. The only reason I was thinking about moving to one was purely to get a more reliable email service. It seems I could well be wasting my money doing so.

I need a hosting package that's reliable (uptime) and fast! Shared hosting is fine if anyone can suggest a company that provide this?

 

[Faevilangel]

Use a dedicated email platform such as Gmail for business (£33 a year), you can use the gmail app and website to send / receive emails but also get their brilliant spam protection systems.

 

[Faevilangel]

The reason I say gmail as you will get these issues with any shared host, shared hosting is cheap that anyone can grab an account and spam the hell out of it before they get blocked or they don't worry about their site on it, it gets taken over by bad guys and they use a legitimate website to send out spam.

I always used to say use the inbuilt email platform but for £33 a year it's so cheap to have gmail's services it's a no brainer. Moved a client to it a few weeks ago and they are buzzing, better email response, email on the go and far better spam protection.

 

[Kixo]

I would second what faevilangel says. Keep hosting where is but move emails to dedicated provider

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

What hosting are you currently using?

If you want fast hosting hosting and have static html pages then a faster web server such as LiteSpeed which we run can really help. This will serve web pages up to 9 times faster than a standard Apache web server.

I'd also echo the comments about email.

It sounds like you'll be best off with good quality web hosting or perhaps eCommerce hosting if you have a business site, and then using Gmail for business for your email.

To be honest this will beat any in house email service. If you currently like using Gmail on your phone etc., or even if you don't, being able to access such a good email client from any device anywhere is great.

Switching to a better host and adding Gmail for business would be far more cost effective and preferable to using a VPS, which would cost a lot more and potentially not even solve your problem.

We host a number of UKBF members and would be happy to help.

As mentioned knowing what I do so far I'd recommend one of our Web Hosting or eCommerce Hosting Packages.

If you have any questions then feel free to get in touch. The best way is generally through our website.

I hope that helps.

All the best,

Dan

 

[AlanGuidry]

I always used to say use the inbuilt email platform but for £33 a year it's so cheap to have gmail's services it's a no brainer. Moved a client to it a few weeks ago and they are buzzing, better email response, email on the go and far better spam protection.

That's really helpful to know. So would I still be able to send and receive emails using my "name [at] domain.co.uk" through the gmail service and how does this work if I already have a hosting company hosting my domain?

 

[Faevilangel]

That's really helpful to know. So would I still be able to send and receive emails using my "name [at] domain.co.uk" through the gmail service and how does this work if I already have a hosting company hosting my domain?

yup, gmail takes over your whole email system so can send and receive emails as your domain, you need to be able (on your host or domain registrar) change the nameservers to point at a default location, set your website as a cname and then use mx records for gmail - more info at https://support.google.com/a/answer/140034?hl=en

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

Yes and Yes.

You're essentially having Google handle your email, whilst your hosting can be provided by a web host. You just need to alter some settings at your host, to tell it that Google will be your Mail Exchanger (mx records), some like us include a wizard to do that for you.

 

[AlanGuidry]

Thanks @Faevilangel and @Dan_HiHosting for the advice. So why would hosting my email through google apps avoid the issues I've had so far with my email on the shared hosting platform. Does google have steps that ensure abuse doesn't happen on their platform? Excuse my ignorance on this subject - it's all a bit new to me.

 

[Faevilangel]

Thanks @Faevilangel and @Dan_HiHosting for the advice. So why would hosting my email through google apps avoid the issues I've had so far with my email on the shared hosting platform. Does google have steps that ensure abuse doesn't happen on their platform? Excuse my ignorance on this subject - it's all a bit new to me.

yup, Google has awesome spam filters which kill most spam dead and they actively remove spam accounts quickly. Also they run around multiple mail servers so if for some reason one of their ip's are blocked for spam, they have multiple others to send through.

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

Yes, Google is the king of email, and their email infrastructure can't really be compared to a shared hosting server. Whilst with a decent web host the issues you describe shouldn't really happen (by monitoring accounts, being able to switch the sending IP of the mail server), or very rarely do for a short period, it's safe to say you'd never experience it using Google.

 

[AlanGuidry]

Looks like this would be the way to go then! @Faewilangel do you actually use Google Apps for business email. Would be interested in anyones feedback of the service..(maybe I should set up a new thread for this)?

 

[Faevilangel]

I would set up a new post for that but I don't use myself (or swapping to it soon) but a few clients have and they enjoy the extra freedom including the use of the gmail interface and the gmail apps.

 

[AlanGuidry]

Thanks @Faevilangel and @Dan_HiHosting for advice. Will definitely look into this.