Lockdown Your Inbox

Email is one of the most commonly used communication tools in the digital age. However, it is also one of the most vulnerable to cyber-attacks, especially phishing attacks. Phishing emails are designed to trick you into clicking on a link or downloading an attachment that contains malware, and they can result in data breaches, financial loss, and even identity theft. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, you need to understand how to verify the authenticity of an email. That's where SPF, DKIM, and DMARC come in. These three email authentication protocols work together to prevent email spoofing and ensure that emails are legitimate. In this blog, we will explore how to master SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to keep phishing emails at bay. We will explain how these protocols work, how to implement them on your domain, and how to use various online tools to verify email authenticity. By following our guidelines, you can safeguard your inbox against phishing attacks and keep your personal and business data secure.

1. SPF check: SPF is a protocol used to prevent sender address forgery. An SPF record is a DNS record that identifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of a particular domain. To check if the email is authorized by the domain, you can use an SPF checker tool, which verifies the SPF record for the domain and compares the mail server IP address with the list of authorized IP addresses. If the IP address of the mail server that sent the email is not on the authorized list, it could indicate a phishing attempt.

2. DKIM check: DKIM is a protocol that provides a way to validate the authenticity of an email message. DKIM adds a digital signature to the email, which verifies that the message was sent by an authorized sender and has not been tampered with during transmission. To check if the email is DKIM-signed, you can view the email headers and look for the DKIM signature. You can also use a DKIM validator tool to check if the DKIM signature is valid.

3. DMARC check: DMARC is a protocol that provides additional email authentication and alignment capabilities. DMARC policy allows the domain owner to instruct receiving email servers on how to handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks. To check if the email is DMARC compliant, you can view the email headers and look for the DMARC policy. You can also use a DMARC validator tool to check if the domain has a DMARC policy and whether the policy is set to quarantine or reject emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks.

How to implement it on your domain ?

Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on your domain can help prevent email spoofing and protect your domain from being used for phishing attacks. Here are the steps to implement each protocol:

1. SPF:

a. Create an SPF record in your DNS zone file. The SPF record specifies the IP addresses that are authorized to send emails for your domain.

b. Test your SPF record using an online tool like SPF Record Checker to ensure that it is valid.

2. DKIM:

a. Generate a public-private key pair for your domain using a tool like OpenDKIM.

b. Add the public key to your DNS zone file as a TXT record.

c. Configure your email server to sign outgoing emails using the private key.

d. Test your DKIM setup using an online tool like DKIM Validator to ensure that it is valid.

3. DMARC:

a. Create a DMARC record in your DNS zone file. The DMARC record specifies how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks.

b. Choose a policy for handling failed emails, such as "quarantine" or "reject".

c. Configure your email server to send DMARC reports to your designated email address.

d. Test your DMARC setup using an online tool like DMARC Inspector to ensure that it is valid.

It is important to note that implementing these protocols correctly can be complex, and any mistakes can result in email delivery issues. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with an experienced IT professional or use an email security service that provides automatic SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup and monitoring.

Tools Used :

To check phishing emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, you can use various online tools that help you verify the authenticity of the email. Here are some popular tools:

1. SPF checking tools:

a. SPF Record Checker: It checks the SPF record of the domain and verifies whether the sending server is authorized to send emails for that domain.

b. MX Toolbox: It provides an SPF record lookup tool that checks the domain's SPF record and tells you if it is valid or not.

2. DKIM checking tools:

a. DKIM Validator: It allows you to check the DKIM signature of the email and tells you whether it is valid or not.

b. DMARC Analyzer: It provides a free DMARC check tool that allows you to verify the DMARC record of a domain and helps you understand how DMARC works.

3. DMARC checking tools:

a. DMARC Inspector: It is a free tool that allows you to check the DMARC record of a domain and gives you a detailed report of the email's DMARC status.

b. Agari DMARC Analyzer: It provides a free DMARC check tool that allows you to verify the DMARC record of a domain and provides a detailed report of the email's DMARC status.

Using these tools, you can quickly and easily check the SPF, DKIM, and DMARC status of an email and determine whether it is legitimate or not. It is important to note that while these tools can help you identify phishing emails, they are not foolproof and should be used in conjunction with other security measures, such as antivirus software and common sense.