In the Best Practices for Handling Abuse Reports and Takedowns webinar as part of the topDNS Best Practice series on 25 February 2025, Volker Greimann, Head of Policy and Compliance, General Counsel - Online Division at Team Internet, and Sven Krohlas, Data Analyst at Spamhaus, discussed the challenges faced in abuse reporting, common pitfalls, and strategies to ensure efficient reporting.
· Effective reporting leads to faster takedowns
Include specific evidence such as screenshots, HTTP logs, and details about geo-blocking or cloaking mechanisms. A clear, actionable report reduces delays caused by vague or incomplete reports, speeding up the takedown action and minimising harm caused by the abuse.
· Reputation lists are crucial for identifying and prioritising abuse cases
They allow registrars and hosting providers to quickly address malicious domains and phishing sites, helping to mitigate risks before they grow into bigger issues.
· Coordinated communication with registrars and hosts improves response times
Abuse reporters who consistently provide clear, verifiable reports will have their concerns addressed faster, improving the overall abuse-handling experience.
· Web forms hinder scalability; prioritise APIs and automated tools
Registrars and abuse departments should prioritise using APIs and automated systems, especially those using machine-readable formats like X-ARF, that streamline the reporting process and enable faster responses.
· Contact the right party; targeted reporting is crucial
Registrars are often unable to remove specific content on websites or force the deletion of subdomains directly. Abuse reporters should ensure they are contacting the right party – whether it’s the registrar, hosting provider, or a third-party service – to ensure that the appropriate action is taken.
The full 1.5-hour webinar recording and a detailed report can be accessed here:
Best Practices for Handling Abuse Reports and Takedowns
