Site Email Protect Features

[Andrew B.]

Seeking your opinions on:

DomainKeys
DomainKeys is an e-mail authentication system that allows for incoming mail to be checked against the server it was sent from to verify that the mail has not been modified. This ensures that messages are actually coming from the listed sender and allows abusive messages to be tracked with more ease.

SPF
SPF will specify which machines are authorized to send email from your domain(s). This means that only mail sent through this server will appear as valid mail from your domain(s) when the SPF records are checked.

[terrie]

Sounds very interesting...links???

Terrie

[Andrew B.]

It's in my control panel. Look in yours under the email features. Maybe it is there.

[Robin Springall]

DomainKeys (I misread it as Donkeys first!) seems a good idea. My ISP allows users to set a number of rules, the most important of which are these:

RBL Check (Used for reducing spam)
When a message arrives on our servers, they check the details of the originating server against a list of blacklisted servers which are known to be repeat and consistent sources or propagators of spam. The blacklist used by our servers is known as sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org and it is one of the most reliable blacklists in use today. Any message we receive from one of these servers is stamped with a "X-RBL-Warning:" header. Selecting the RBL Check test will get a match whenever the "X-RBL-Warning: " phrase is found.

Sender Verify Check (Used for reducing spam)
When a message arrives on our servers, they attempt to validate the "From" address of the email by pretending to send a message to one of that domain's MX servers. If the MX server rejects our test saying that the "user is unknown", our servers stamp the message with an "X-Sender-Verify:" header. Selecting the Sender Verify Check test will get a match whenever the "X-Sender-Verify:" phrase is found.

Mail Delivery Error report (bounce)
When a user sends an email to an invalid or non-existent email address (usually the result of a typing error), a bounce message is sent to the user to let them know the message could not be delivered. Increasingly, however, many spammers will forge their sending address in an attempt to bypass Sender Verify checks (as described above) and they will often use valid email addresses belonging to innocent parties. When this happens, a huge number of bounces can be sent to the innocent party who is usually powerless to take any action or prevent more spam. Selecting the Mail Delivery Error report (bounce) test will allow users to block any bounces they may receive and is recommended for use by anyone whose email address has been forged by spammers. Please note that this test will capture all bounces whether caused by spammers or by the user.

[terrie]

andrew: It's in my control panel. Look in yours under the email features. Maybe it is there.Ahhh...gotcha...thanks...

Terrie

[terrie]

robin: When this happens, a huge number of bounces can be sent to the innocent party who is usually powerless to take any action or prevent more spam.And boy is it annoying!!!

I've had this happen with my cserve addy...

Terrie

[Robin Springall]

Please note that this test will capture all bounces whether caused by spammers or by the userThankfully, though, my own mis-addressed emails do seem to bounce back.