The foremost step of creating an SPF record is enlisting all the IP addresses and mail servers that you want to add to it. These should be all the authorized sources from which you, your employees, third-party vendors, and other brand representatives can send emails. The reason you need to be careful while listing the…
You might have heard a lot about email authentication and how implementing protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) can help you strengthen your defenses against cybersecurity threats. In the ongoing battle against email-based threats like phishing, spoofing, and spam, these three protocols are…
It was not long ago when Google and Yahoo revamped their email-sending policies and made DMARC authentication a mandatory exercise for organizations sending more than 5,000 emails a day. The aim of these mail service providers was simple— to build a cyber-resilient digital ecosystem. Recently, another major ESP— Microsoft, jumped the bandwagon and announced that it…
Understanding the realities and limitations of the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is crucial for making informed decisions about your email security. Believing in SPF myths can lead to a false sense of security, potentially putting your system at risk. For example, the misconception that SPF is self-sufficient could lead to a lack of additional security…
Email security was a headache for tech giants (and even some smaller companies) in the late 1990s. It was the time when threat actors started exploiting email communications to attempt impersonation, spoofing, and phishing-based attacks in the names of reputed companies and domain owners. Considering the rise in email-based cyber menaces, many experts got involved…
Email authentication, a crucial practice in today’s digital world, is the process of verifying the true identity of an email sender. By implementing robust protocols, domain administrators and business owners can effectively combat phishing and spoofing attacks that often exploit their brand identity. SPF or Sender Policy Framework, is one of the oldest email authentication…
Have you ever come across a URL that seems legitimate at first glance, yet there is something fishy about it? In most cases, if you look closely, you will notice something slightly strange about these websites, perhaps a character that doesn’t quite fit or a slight variation in the spelling. This is a classic case…
During the tax season, cybercriminals impersonate IRS officials and call taxpayers, scarring them into taking desperate and hasty action. If you fall victim to their tactics, you could potentially lose a significant amount of money or even face legal consequences. They might request your financial details to redirect the tax rebate to their account or…
The Middle East is outshining other nations with its remarkable commitment to email security. Starting February 1, 2024, both Google and Yahoo mandated SPF and DKIM for bulk senders, while companies sending out over 5,000 emails per day are also required to have DMARC in place. While other nations are still making slower moves, almost…
In 2022, the Securing Government Services team at the Central Digital and Data Office came across an interesting problem with SPF. The team found a small bug with how UK government domains’ administrators managed the Sender Policy Framework or SPF records. SPF is an email authentication protocol that ensures only emails sent from trusted and…
