Email authentication protocols help verify the legitimacy of email messages and reduce the risk of phishing attacks. Key protocols include:
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance):
Overview: DMARC builds on existing authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM, allowing domain owners to specify how to handle unauthenticated emails.
Functionality: It provides feedback (reports) to domain owners about email messages that fail authentication checks, enabling them to take corrective actions.
Impact: By implementing DMARC, organizations can significantly reduce email spoofing and phishing attempts using their domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):
Overview: DKIM allows the sending domain to sign emails with a digital signature, which recipients can verify.
Functionality: The recipient's mail server checks the signature against the public key published in the sender’s DNS records to confirm the email's integrity and authenticity.
Impact: DKIM helps ensure that the email content has not been altered during transit, making it harder for attackers to spoof emails.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework):
Overview: SPF allows domain owners to specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of their domain.
Functionality: The recipient’s mail server checks the SPF record to verify if the sending server is authorized. If not, the email can be flagged or rejected.
Impact: SPF helps prevent unauthorized senders from impersonating a legitimate domain, reducing the risk of phishing.