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Home / Glossary / Email authentication
Glossary · Security

Email authentication

In plain language

The set of checks (SPF, DKIM and DMARC) that help inboxes tell real email from forgeries.

The metaphor

Like three checks at the post office: is this carrier on the approved list, is the seal unbroken, and what do the standing instructions say to do with a letter that fails?

Going deeper

How it works

  • SPF lists who may send for you.
  • DKIM proves the message was not changed.
  • DMARC tells receivers what to do when checks fail.
  • Together they protect your reputation and your clients.

How WILDCARD handles it

Domain Security publishes and maintains SPF, DKIM and DMARC for your domain.

In practice
  • A newsletter service sends without DKIM.
  • A spoofed invoice is rejected by DMARC.
  • Mail from a new system lands in spam.

A question owners ask

Do I need all three? Yes. Each covers a different gap, and DMARC ties them together.

Where WILDCARD handles this
Domain
Security
  • Email deliverability
  • Reputation monitoring
  • Management and renewals
Start with Domain SecurityMeet Domain Security →
Email
Security
  • Real-time email filtering
  • Phishing and impersonation caught
  • External senders flagged
Start with Email SecurityMeet Email Security →
Related terms
AIArtificial IntelligenceBECBusiness Email CompromiseCACertificate AuthorityDKIMDomainKeys Identified MailDMARCDomain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and ConformanceDNSDomain Name SystemDomain nameDomain registrar

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