cPanel server keeps being ratelimited by GMail

Started by Austin, Jun 16, 2022, 02:31 PM

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AustinTopic starter

Hello,

We are facing an issue where our cPanel server is being ratelimited by Gmail, resulting in a 44-hour delay in delivering emails to Gmail email addresses.

Despite having no known blacklisted servers, Exim being configured to detect and prevent spam emails, and no compromised accounts, we are unable to get in touch with Gmail regarding this problem.
Do you have any suggestions on how we could resolve this issue and successfully deliver emails to Gmail addresses again?

Thank you for your assistance.
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redshrey

In case you have several users who forward their email from domain-based accounts to Gmail directly, your server may consistently be listed.

Most cPanel configurations don't meet Gmail's strict spam filters, which means that you could be unknowingly forwarding a lot of spam.
Advising your users to set up a pop/imap account and having Gmail check that instead of forwarding emails is the best long-term solution.
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Plan

The only way to remove your email server's listing from Gmail is to follow their guidelines and wait. In the meantime, you can temporarily route outgoing mail through a different SMTP server, like Mailgun, for example. This is a temporary fix because it's pricey, it requires some setting up, and recipients will see "on behalf of" messages. However, at least mail gets delivered.

In the long run, I've discovered that there are better spam filters than the cPanel setup, such as Amavis with DCC and Pyzor. Unfortunately, most solutions require changes to users' mail clients, which can be a logistical and PR nightmare.

Although the pop/imap solution works, I've found that it can cause delays (up to an hour) in email delivery due to polling. Consequently, I no longer suggest it.

Ideally, it's best to avoid both "push" forwarding and "pulling" emails with pop/imap between accounts to eliminate dealing with two sets of spam filters silently disappearing wanted messages.

There are a few other potential solutions with various advantages and disadvantages:

1. Users can create two distinct mail accounts on their devices: personal messages stay on the cPanel server while Gmail messages stay in Gmail. However, this approach may not appeal to all users, and mail will consume (likely costly SSD) storage space.

2. Change the user's MX record so mail is sent directly to Gmail. This strategy requires an expensive Google Worksuite subscription, but some customers are fond of it. (Microsoft has equal "business" accounts, and lots of third-party email providers are also available.)

3. Give up on the personal email domain and use a free Gmail or Microsoft account instead. The apparent problem with this alternative is that you don't own the address, and if you're a business, it appears unprofessional.
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Mycrib

My usual recommendation is that people use POP to pull emails from Gmail.
The only disadvantage is that Gmail may check for new emails every few minutes or once per hour, depending on the amount of email you receive, and adjust the rate accordingly.
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Yura

In my opinion, the possible causes of your problem are: the domain is not configured on the server. There is a problem with the server configuration for the email service. The required ports are blocked on the network.The connection is blocked by the installed antivirus. You can also call the hosting provider, he should help eliminate the cause.
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rahul123

I use WordPress  Mail SMTP plugin for sending emails and cPanel.
In my local mode, it works fine since my host is Gmail. And as soon as I uploaded it live, I got authenticated and I'm sure I typed the Gmail username and password correctly.
Is there any configuration that needs to be done? Perhaps in cPanel? Or the plugin itself? Please help me. Any help would be great. Thanks.
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MikeNielson

Firstly, you may want to check if your server's IP address is listed on any email blacklists. There are online services available that can help you check this. If you're not listed, then it could be an issue with Gmail's spam filters.

To tackle this, make sure you have proper DNS records set up for your server, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. These records help authenticate your email and can improve deliverability.

You should also analyze the content of your emails to ensure they don't trigger any spam filters. Attempt to send test emails from your server to Gmail addresses and check if they are flagged as spam. If they are, consider modifying the content or structure of your emails to reduce the chances of them being filtered.

Additionally, monitor your server's reputation by regularly checking your IP address against email reputation services. This can help you identify any issues that might negatively impact your deliverability.

Finally, try reaching out to Gmail through their support channels, even if you haven't been successful so far. They may be able to provide specific guidance or help resolve the issue.

Keep in mind that these suggestions are general in nature, and it's always best to consult with a professional system administrator who can analyze your specific setup and offer tailored solutions.
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