DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are all email authentication protocols used to prevent email fraud and protect email recipients from spam and phishing attacks. Each protocol serves a specific purpose in email authentication.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a policy framework that allows email domain owners to specify how incoming email from their domain should be handled. It works by using SPF and DKIM to authenticate email messages, and then provides instructions to the email receiver on what to do if an incoming email message fails authentication. DMARC allows domain owners to specify if failed messages should be quarantined, rejected, or allowed through with a warning. DMARC is designed to be used in conjunction with SPF and DKIM.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication protocol that allows email domain owners to specify which IP addresses are authorized to send email on behalf of their domain. SPF works by creating a DNS record that lists the authorized IP addresses for a domain. When an email server receives a message from a domain, it checks the SPF record to ensure that the IP address the email was sent from is authorized to send email on behalf of that domain. If the IP address is not authorized, the email is rejected or marked as spam.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication protocol that allows email domain owners to sign their email messages with a digital signature. The signature is created by the domain owner and is based on the message content. When an email server receives a DKIM-signed message, it checks the signature to ensure that it has not been tampered with and that it was actually sent by the domain owner. If the signature is valid, the email is considered authenticated.
In summary, DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are all important protocols in email authentication. DMARC provides a framework for domain owners to specify how incoming email from their domain should be handled, while SPF and DKIM are used to authenticate email messages. By using these protocols together, email domain owners can help prevent email fraud and protect their users from spam and phishing attacks.
