At DataPacket, we're committed to maintaining the security and reliability of our services. As such, as of 2018, we've opted to block outbound email connections through TCP ports 25/465 (SMTP) on our VPS or dedicated servers by default.
Why are the Outgoing Email Ports Blocked?
The decision to block outgoing SMTP ports 25/465 is driven by the significant level of abuse these ports can attract. As an alternative, we invite our customers to leverage our robust outgoing SMTP servers equipped with advanced spam filtering as a relay (smarthost). Customers also have the option to utilize a third-party email relay service if they need to send outbound emails from the server.
What Options Do I Have to Send Email from My Server or Application?
DataPacket clients can configure their email servers to use our smarthost service, which boasts advanced spam filtering to prevent abuse. Alternatively, clients can use a smarthost external to the DataPacket network to relay emails from their server. A smarthost is a relay host that forwards SMTP traffic from an SMTP server, mail client, or any other service or programming language equipped to handle SMTP. Typically, servers send this type of traffic via the mail submission TCP port 587. DataPacket VPS or dedicated server clients can communicate with this or any custom port of their choice – only outgoing TCP ports 25/465 are blocked.
Does DataPacket Offer a Smart Host Service?
Yes, DataPacket does provide a complimentary smarthost service to relay your outbound mail. Our smarthost servers are equipped with advanced filtering to prevent spam from traversing our network. To utilize the DataPacket smarthost, adjust your relay or SMTP settings to use "smarthost-01.interlayer.net" on port "587". No authentication is required, as the server will authenticate by IP address.
Opening Ports by Request
Clients may request that the blocked SMTP ports (25/465) be opened after maintaining the VPS hosting or dedicated server for 60 days or at any time if a valid government ID is provided. This policy is in place to ensure user legitimacy and prevent service abuse.
DataPacket has taken a proactive stance in managing the security risks associated with outbound SMTP connections. We're excited to offer our smarthost service as a robust, secure alternative for our clients' outbound email needs.
