Why is my IP blocked when trying to access my email?

At GINERNET we apply security measures to protect your email accounts and our servers against brute-force attacks and unauthorised access. One of those measures is the automatic blocking of IPs with failed login attempts.

What is an IP block?

When several failed login attempts to an email account are made from the same IP, the system interprets that activity as suspicious and temporarily blocks the IP as a security measure.

• Temporary block duration: 1 hour.
• Permanent block: if the system detects 5 consecutive temporary blocks, the IP is blocked permanently and you will need to contact us to unblock it.

Most common causes

Wrong credentials

• The email client is configured with an incorrect username or password.
• Solution: set up your email client following this guide.

Deleted accounts

• If a device tries to access an account that no longer exists, the server treats it as a failed attempt.
• The server cannot tell the difference between a non-existent account and a wrong password.

Automatic connections

• Many email clients automatically retry the connection every few seconds. If they are misconfigured, failures pile up very quickly and trigger the block.

How to avoid this problem

• Configure your email client correctly following this step-by-step guide.
• Verify your credentials before setting up the account: you can test the username and password by logging into webmail at https://yourdomain.com/webmail.
• Remove old accounts from your devices: if you delete or change an email address, also remove its configuration from your phone, tablet or computer.

What should I do if my IP is blocked?

1. Wait for the temporary block to expire. In most cases it is removed automatically after 1 hour.
2. Check your email client settings: username, password, incoming server (IMAP/POP3) and outgoing server (SMTP).
3. Check all other connected devices (phones, tablets, other computers): a single device with an old password is enough to trigger the block again.
4. If the block is permanent, contact our support team so we can help you unblock the IP.

Why is this security measure important?

IP blocking protects both your account and the entire server against brute-force attacks. Without it, an attacker could use automated methods to guess your password and access your personal data.