Free DMARC Record Checker

Ensure email authentication and protect your domain from phishing and email spoofing with a free DMARC record checker.

Your DMARC Record

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What is a DMARC record checker?

A DMARC record checker is a tool that helps verify if a domain has a correctly configured DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) record. This record, stored in your DNS, specifies how receiving servers should handle emails that fail authentication checks (SPF and DKIM).
By using a DMARC record check, domain owners can ensure their DMARC policies are correctly implemented, helping to prevent unauthorized use of their domain for phishing, spoofing, or fraudulent activities.

How does a DMARC checker work?

The DMARC checker works by performing a series of technical steps:

  1. DNS lookups: It retrieves the DMARC record from the domain’s DNS record.

  2. Record parsing: It validates the record’s syntax and ensures all tags (e.g., ‘p’, ‘rua’, ‘ruf’) are correctly formatted.

  3. Authentication checks: The tool analyzes SPF record and DKIM record alignment to ensure the domain’s authentication protocols align with the DMARC policy.

  4. Reporting validation: The tool verifies reporting mechanisms, such as aggregate (‘rua’) and forensic (‘ruf’) reports, ensuring that email feedback is appropriately configured.

For example, if your DMARC policy is set to ‘p=reject’, the tool will check that SPF and DKIM are correctly aligned to enforce the policy for non-compliant emails.

Why should you use the DMARC lookup tool?

Using a DMARC lookup tool is critical for:

  1. Enhancing email security: Protect your domain and/or subdomains from phishing, spoofing, and unauthorized use.

  2. Improving email delivery: Ensure legitimate emails reach inboxes by reducing the chances of being flagged as spam.

  3. Maintaining brand reputation: Prevent attackers from impersonating your email domain, safeguarding trust with your audience.

  4. Proactive monitoring: Identify and fix DMARC misconfigurations before they impact email performance.

How to fix issues detected by the DMARC checker tool?

If your DMARC checker flags issues, follow these steps:

  1. Review and correct syntax: Ensure the DMARC record is error-free and includes all necessary tags (e.g., ‘v=DMARC1’, ‘p=reject’).

  2. Verify SPF and DKIM alignment mode: Ensure your SPF and DKIM records align with your domain’s email-sending sources.

  3. Adjust DMARC policies: Gradually move from a monitoring policy (‘p=none’) to enforcement policies (‘p=quarantine’ or ‘p=reject’).

  4. Set up reporting: Configure ‘rua’ and ‘ruf’ tags to receive email authentication feedback and monitor compliance.

  5. Test regularly: Use the DMARC checker frequently to validate updates and prevent future issues.

FAQ

What is DMARC?

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that allows domain owners to protect their domains from unauthorized use, such as phishing and spoofing.

For example, a company can use DMARC to ensure that only emails sent by its legitimate servers are delivered, while fraudulent ones are rejected or flagged.

What is the DMARC record?

A DMARC record is a DNS entry that specifies the domain’s DMARC policy, including how to handle emails that fail authentication checks and where to send feedback reports. For example, a DMARC record might instruct servers to reject non-compliant emails and send aggregate reports to ‘dmarc-reports@example.com’.

Why is the DMARC record important?

A valid DMARC record is essential for several reasons. It prevents email spoofing by stopping attackers from impersonating your domain. It also protects your brand reputation by ensuring recipients can trust that emails sent from your domain are legitimate. Additionally, a properly configured DMARC record improves email deliverability, helping legitimate emails avoid being flagged as spam and ensuring they reach the intended recipients.

How to create a DMARC record?

To create a DMARC record, log in to your DNS provider and access the DNS management console. Add a new TXT record for your domain, specify ‘v=DMARC1’, set a policy (e.g., ‘none,’ ‘quarantine,’ or ‘reject’), and include ‘rua’ and ‘ruf’ tags for reporting. Finally, save the record and test it with a DMARC checker. Here is an example of what a DMARC record should look like: v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@example.com; ruf=mailto:forensics@example.com.

How does DMARC work with other email authentication protocols?

DMARC relies on SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) for email authentication. SPF ensures that emails are sent only from authorized domain servers, while DKIM verifies that messages have not been tampered with during transit. Together, these protocols provide the foundation for DMARC to validate the authenticity of emails and protect against spoofing and phishing attacks.

What are the common mistakes to avoid when creating a DMARC record?

When creating a DMARC record, avoid common mistakes like incorrect syntax (e.g., typos or missing ‘v=DMARC1’), misaligned SPF and DKIM, and jumping to strict policies like ‘p=reject’ without testing with ‘p=none’. Along with that, you shouldn’t forget to include reporting tags (‘rua’ and ‘ruf’) and do regular testing with a DMARC checker tool to catch and fix issues.

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