Sometimes, life gives you irony. Other times, it gives you bots. Recently, we got both.
A few weeks ago, we launched ListDefender, a form protection and list-cleaning tool designed to help marketers keep their email lists clean and engagement high. Our beta launch was going well—partners we’ve worked with for 12+ years joined our waitlist and started testing the tool.
And then, out of nowhere, the attacks began.
What Happened:
Imagine this: you’re running a simple opt-in form to gather signups for your beta program. Everything’s working perfectly until you start seeing hundreds of strange opt-ins—real email addresses added by bots.
Here’s what the attack looked like:
- Legitimate email addresses were added to our waitlist form without consent.
- Auto-responder emails were then sent to these unsuspecting people.
- The goal? For the recipients to mark our emails as spam, damaging our reputation and deliverability.
We’ve been building marketing tools for 12 years. Dozens of opt-in web forms. Hundreds of campaigns. And not once have we been attacked like this. But suddenly, our newest tool—ListDefender, a form protection tool—became the target.
Coincidence? Not likely.
Why It’s Suspicious (and Kind of Flattering):
We don’t like to jump to conclusions, but let’s connect the dots:
- Brand new tool. We just launched ListDefender.
- Highly targeted attack. The bots weren’t just annoying—they were strategic.
- Motivation? Someone didn’t like what we’re building. Maybe a competitor wanted to make ListDefender look weak.
And here’s the ultimate irony: they attacked our form protection tool… by targeting the very forms we’re designed to protect.
Flattering, really.
How We Fought Back (And Won):
The first attack forced us to implement stronger protections. For a few days, the attacks stopped. Then they came back—stronger and sneakier.
We saw this as a challenge. So we dug in, got creative, and built an enhanced layer of form protection that now blocks bots, bad actors, and all kinds of shady behavior.
Here’s what we gained:
- Stronger defense tools: ListDefender is now more effective than ever.
- Improved resilience: We turned an attack into an opportunity to level up.
- More determination: If this attack came from a competitor, all they did was galvanize our team.
The Takeaway (For You):
Attacks like this are frustrating, but they’re also common for marketers. Whether it’s spammy bots, fake emails, or bad actors, your opt-in forms and email lists are always at risk.
That’s why we built ListDefender: to give legitimate marketers tools to protect their lists, track real engagement, and eliminate bad data.
This attack didn’t stop us—it made us stronger. And now we’re ready to help you fight back, too.
Join the ListDefender Waitlist
To whoever’s behind this attack: Thanks for the challenge.
To marketers everywhere: If bots are coming for your forms, we’ve got the tools to fight back.
Ready to clean your lists, protect your forms, and keep bots out for good? Join the waitlist for ListDefender and see what real protection looks like.
