What Is An SPF Record Tester? How Is It Different From SPF Record Checker?
How using an SPF record tester allows organizations to efficiently deploy SPF records and prevent spoofing.
Organizations cannot afford a compromise in their email delivery systems. Undelivered messages result in tremendous losses to marketing campaigns. Emails have a high click-through rate of 2.5%, i.e., 3.5 times more than Facebook ads, and being blacklisted can lead to massive revenue losses. Email is also the most used form of corporate communication – many organizations rely on them for customer support, making them vital.
That being said, 94% of malware is introduced using emails. To protect themselves, users can deploy validating standards like SPF (Sender Policy Framework). SPF minimizes a malicious adversary’s chances of forging an organization’s sender address or forwarding messages in their name. The tool works by verifying a sender’s IP address with a registered record, thus lowering the chances of genuine emails being flagged for spam. Organizations have much to gain from SPF records. However, these have to be implemented properly to work. Tools like the SPF record tester allow users to check parameters like SPF record syntax and ensure proper deployment.
Table of Contents
What Is An SPF Record?
The Sender Policy Framework or SPF is an email validation system designed to prevent email spoofing by verifying the sender’s IP addresses. If an email’s IP address does not match the record, it is not delivered. Creating an SPF record in the DNS allows network administrators to specify which hosts can send emails from a domain.
An SPF record example is shown below:
“v=spf1 mx a ip4:192.0.2.0/24 ip4:198.51.100.123 -all”
There are many tools users can take the help of to create SPF records if they need them.
What Is An SPF Record Tester?
SPF Record Testing tools assist users in deploying SPF records for their domains.
Some things a basic SPF Record Tester can check include the following parameters:
- It checks if a domain already has a pre-existing SPF record, what it is, and its validity.
- It can test whether the SPF record syntax is valid without looking up the record.
- It can evaluate the performance of the SPF record based on different IP addresses that an email is sent from.
- It is also possible to test future changes to the SPF record to prevent complications during implementation.
There are some excellent SPF testing tools. For users looking for a trustworthy SPF Record check Google tool.
SPF Record Tester Vs. SPF Record Checker – Is An SPF Record Tester Different From an SPF Record Checker?
The term SPF record tester is often used interchangeably with “SPF record checker.” However, a record tester may refer to a simpler tool, whereas “SPF record checkers” provide more comprehensive details.
For example, some additional checks an SPF Record Checker can carry out include:
- SPF Record Exists – It verifies the presence of an SPF record in the DNS.
- Avoid Maximum Lookups – There is a limit to resolve an SPF record – 10 nested lookups – SPF record checkers caution against exceeding this limit. The limit helps prevent DDoS.
- Character Limit is Maintained – The SPF Record Checker verifies if a character limit is maintained in the SPF Record. At present, the limit is 255 characters.
- No Multiple SPF records in DNS – Multiple SPF records are not allowed to be published. Doing so invalidates the record. Users should constantly update an existing record and refrain from placing a new record next to the original.
- No PTR Mechanism Used – PTR is a deprecated mechanism, and many senders can ignore an SPF record when this mechanism is used.
- +all (SPF record all) mechanism not used – The mechanism “all” used with a ‘+’ qualifier makes it so anyone can send emails from a domain. The record first tries to match the source with a different mechanism. If it fails, it allows the email by default. Therefore, this setup is not advised.
- Unknown parts not used – The SPF record checker detects content that is not present in the SPF specification.
- Multiple Fallback Scenario – An SPF record should not contain many fallbacks; only one fallback is recommended.
- Record Termination Missing – Every SPF record should feature a default fallback mechanism which can be a ‘redirect’ mechanism or an ‘all’ modifier.
- Uppercase SPF – Although not necessary, SPF records should not be in uppercase. The best practice is to publish SPF records in lower case.
- Invalid Macro – The SPF Record checker validates SPF macros that are in use.
Benefits Of Using An SPF Record Tester
The primary advantage of checking and testing SPF records is the proper deployment and working of the tool. Deploying the record without errors prevents loss of time and helps do the following:
- Prevents Loss of Reputation due to misuse of the domain by scammers.
- Prevents misdirected bounce messages and saves work hours.
- Prevents an organization’s IP addresses from being blacklisted.
- Prevents misconfigurations that defeat the purpose of setting up the record.
A correctly deployed SPF record checks emails from an inbound mail server for the necessary authorization. If authorization is not present, the SPF check ensures that the mail is not delivered at all. If the record states that the email is to be delivered regardless of IP match, it is done so with a warning that it is safe.
Final Words
SPF checking and testing are of paramount importance today when it comes to email security because of the increasing numbers of spam and spoofing done online. SPF tries to ensure that only authorized domains can send emails on an organization’s behalf. However, the tool also has its drawbacks. For instance, it does not completely protect against all kinds of spoofing. A malicious actor may yet use a fake sender name in the email despite SPF. SPF also only prevents email entry from unauthorized IPs and senders. However, if an adversary sends an email from an authorized domain, SPF does not work. SPF record tester is thus a tool among many in the arsenal and should be used accordingly.
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