How do I resolve spam assassin complaint "URI: URI hostname has long hexadecimal sequence"?

I'm seeing across multiple nations spam assassin warning:

URI: URI hostname has long hexadecimal sequence

The warning is worth 1.3 points so it seems like something that needs to be resolved. But I'm not sure how to fix it.

What is this issue, and what is the recommended solution?

Thanks!

Official response from C.J. MinsterCheng

Updated response: Long blocks of unreadable data in a hyperlink (URI) can indicate a the presence of a tracking link to identify precisely which recipient received the message and clicked on the links. Tracking links allow NationBuilder to populate email blast stats.

Spam Assassin is appropriately, although inconsistently, picking up on tracking links and marking this as a potential flag for email deliverability.

It is not possible to avoid this warning from Spam Assassin as all email blasts include tracking links. Many factors impact email deliverability. If tracking links are the only area of concern noted by Spam Assassin and you are having trouble getting emails delivered to recipient inboxes, other factors are probably impacting your email blasts.

More information is available on email deliverability:

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C.J. MinsterCheng

NationBuilder employee

C.J. MinsterCheng responded with completed

posted 2016-06-07 17:43:49 -0700
Jodi Rose

Jodi Rose tagged this with Not helpful

posted 2015-12-14 16:56:22 -0800
Ana Escobedo

NationBuilder employee

Ana Escobedo commented
Hi Christian!

Thanks for your post. It’s very helpful!
posted 2015-07-27 16:26:26 -0700
Christian Berrigan

Christian Berrigan commented
I just had a 1.3 with this issue and reduced it to zero like this:

I had a graphic in a table to the left of text. I had three of these, like bullet points in a list. Each of the images had a link to a specific page in the nation. Also, at the end of each paragraph was a “(read more…)” in text which was also linked to the same page.

I deleted the links from the images and retained the text links and the score came back zero. I suspect that the length of html code which both references the image file plus has the tracking link is somehow more susceptible to flagging the URI thing.

Worked for me in this case anyway. Hope this helps.
posted 2015-07-26 14:52:06 -0700
Lindsey Needham

NationBuilder employee

Lindsey Needham commented
Long blocks of unreadable data in a URI can indicate a link in an email blast is a “tracking” URI used to identify precisely which recipient email address received the message and actually accessed the URI. Using these sorts of links is how the email blast stats get populated.

Spam Assassin is appropriately (albeit inconsistently) picking up on tracking links in the email blast and marks this as a potential flag for email deliverability. We understand that any inkling of spammy content is disconcerting for customers, but this specific issue should not interfere with deliverability.
posted 2015-07-05 16:45:04 -0700
Duane Ludwig

Duane Ludwig commented
Come on NB, this seems to be causing a LOT of our messages to go into spam folders… NOT the desired outcome of our hard work!
posted 2015-07-05 09:41:20 -0700
Thomas Woodley

Thomas Woodley commented
Yes, same thing happens to me as what happens to Travis County Green Party. It is very inconsistent: sometimes you check and it’s there; other times you check and it’s not. I heard from an NB support person that this is simply a sign of “bulk mail,” and that we just need to live with it. But given my experiences, this explanation doesn’t add up. I’ve been sending emails with NB for over a year, and I didn’t used to get it. It’s only a phenomenon of the past month or two for me.
posted 2015-06-15 07:46:21 -0700
Katija Gruene

Katija Gruene commented
i had a spam score of zero a few minutes ago, and then this popped up when i double checked before sending.
posted 2015-06-14 19:56:39 -0700
Thomas Woodley

Thomas Woodley commented
I am getting this error today, June 5, 2015, using a template that used to pass the NB spam check with no problems. (“URI: URI hostname has long hexadecimal sequence”) Obviously, we as customers/users cannot even access this URI value. A permanent resolution to this problem from NationBuilder is needed ASAP.
posted 2015-06-05 12:27:58 -0700
Kelly Brown

Kelly Brown tagged this with Not helpful

posted 2015-05-15 11:43:42 -0700
James Earle

James Earle commented
Ugh, that’s not it either. I don’t know how to get the link to paste properly.
posted 2015-04-14 12:31:37 -0700
James Earle

James Earle commented
Sorry that link didn’t paste correctly. Copy the URL below:

https://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/spamassassin-users/201001.mbox/
posted 2015-04-14 12:30:08 -0700
James Earle

James Earle commented
Since NB hasn’t provided a hint here, I found the explanation below helpful. TL;DR: It’s probably the tags NB uses for link tracking, and it may be an unavoidable hit. No idea why some emails get the hit and others don’t, though.

https://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/spamassassin-users/201001.mbox/%3CPine.LNX.4.64.1001030929170.4663@mercury.impsec.org%3E

“Long blocks of unreadable data in a URI can indicate it is a “tracking” URI, used to identify precisely which recipient email address received the message and actually accessed the URI. This is considered a sign of bulk mail… As you appear to be using a mailing list service, this is likely a hit you’ll just have to live with. Fixing it would be something for your service provider to look into. It would involve changing how they encode their unsubscribe (and other subscriber-specific) links."
posted 2015-04-14 12:28:26 -0700
Nate King

Nate King commented
The official response on this question leaves a lot to be desired.
posted 2015-03-24 12:01:06 -0700
Nate King

Nate King tagged this with Not helpful

posted 2015-03-24 11:59:16 -0700
Vernon Huffman

Vernon Huffman commented
Me, too!
posted 2015-03-12 13:39:49 -0700
Jerimee Richir

Richir Outreach
Certified Architect
Certified Developer

Jerimee Richir responded with completed

posted 2012-08-10 13:36:16 -0700
Jerimee Richir

Richir Outreach
Certified Architect
Certified Developer

Jerimee Richir commented
Sendgrid said it had to do with the email not being whitelisted – so perhaps this is an issue that arises when you send from an email address whose domain is not associated with your nation?

Like I said, could use some support on this issue.
posted 2012-08-09 08:43:52 -0700
Jerimee Richir

Richir Outreach
Certified Architect
Certified Developer

Jerimee Richir commented
actually I’m less sure of that now… I could use some support
posted 2012-07-25 20:30:10 -0700
Jerimee Richir

Richir Outreach
Certified Architect
Certified Developer

Jerimee Richir commented
Looks like checking the option <em>“When the recipient clicks on the email, automatically add their info to any forms”</em> may contribute to this spam flag.
posted 2012-07-25 20:20:56 -0700
Jerimee Richir

Richir Outreach
Certified Architect
Certified Developer

Jerimee Richir commented
<a href=“”http://screencast.com/t/hgHBpaEm">http://screencast.com/t/hgHBpaEm"><img src=“”http://content.screencast.com/users/Jerimee/folders/Jing/media/240059e0-cd20-4e8a-8b7a-b7fda1847536/2012-07-23_1342.png">http://content.screencast.com/users/Jerimee/folders/Jing/media/240059e0-cd20-4e8a-8b7a-b7fda1847536/2012-07-23_1342.png" border=“0” height=“166” width="894">
posted 2012-07-23 10:42:25 -0700