Smile ? You're Hacked ! ??

Google and Yahoo have new email authentication requirements that took effect in February 2024:

• Authentication: Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate emails
• DMARC: Use a DMARC policy with a minimum of p=none
• From domain: Use an aligned "From" domain in the SPF or DKIM domains
• TLS: Use a TLS connection to transmit email
• DNS: Use valid forward and reverse DNS (FCrDNS)
• Unsubscribe: Include a one-click unsubscribe link in the message body
• Spam rate: Maintain a spam complaint rate below 0.3%
• Formatting: Format messages according to the Internet Message Format standard

These requirements are primarily targeted at large bulk senders, especially those that send more than 5,000 emails per day. The goal is to: protect recipients from unwanted emails, enhance overall cybersecurity, and mitigate the influx of spam emails.

DMARC is an email authentication standard that builds on the existing standards of SPF and DKIM. It detects and prevents email spoofing techniques used in phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and other email-based attacks.

What if I don't implement DMARC, SPF, DKIM in my email sending domain name?

Not implementing email authentication as per Google and Yahoo's requirements can lead to several downsides:

• Increased Spam Rates: Without proper authentication, your emails are more likely to be flagged as spam by email providers. This can damage your sender reputation and decrease your email deliverability.
• Reduced Email Open Rates: If your emails end up in the spam folder, recipients are less likely to see them, leading to lower open rates and ultimately, fewer conversions.
• Brand Damage: Consistently having emails marked as spam can damage your brand's reputation and erode trust with your customers.
• Legal and Compliance Issues: In some cases, failing to comply with email authentication requirements could have legal implications, especially if you are sending emails for commercial purposes.
• Lost Revenue: Decreased email deliverability and open rates can directly impact your revenue, especially if email marketing is a significant part of your sales strategy.

To avoid these downsides, it's crucial to implement email authentication protocols like:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This helps validate that the sender's IP address is authorized to send emails for your domain.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This adds a digital signature to your emails, verifying their origin.
• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): This policy instructs email receivers on how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks

By implementing these protocols, you can improve your email deliverability, protect your brand reputation, and ensure compliance with email marketing best practices.

Stay safe, Secure your Business, Shield your Reputation !