Verifying a sender’s identity is an important step when sending emails. It helps ensure that emails actually come from the person or business claiming to have sent them. It also helps prevent the spoofing of email addresses which can lead to phishing scams and other malicious activities. This document will provide a step-by-step guide to verifying a sender’s identity for a given email address.
Steps To Verify Sender Identity
1. Confirm the domain of the recipient address
The first step in verifying a sender's identity is to confirm the domain of the recipient (To) address. This can be done by looking up the domain name in a domain name registrar.
2. Lookup the MX records
Once the domain has been confirmed, you will then need to lookup the MX (Mail Exchanger) records associated with that domain. These records provide the email server address that will be used by the sender when delivering the message.
3. Get the sender’s IP address
The next step is to get the sender’s IP address. This can be done by using an online tool such as MX Toolbox or using an email header analyzer like Email Headers Analyzer.
4. Compare the IP address to the MX records
Once the sender’s IP address has been obtained, it needs to be compared to the MX records associated with the recipient address. If the IP address matches the MX records, then the sender has a valid domain and can be considered to be verified.
5. Check for DKIM/SPF records
In addition to the MX records, you should also check for the presence of DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records. These records provide additional verification that the sender is who they claim to be.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between verifying a sender identity and checking for spoofing?
A: Verifying a sender's identity is the process of ensuring that the sender is who they claim to be and that the message actually originated from them. Checking for spoofing is the process of verifying that the sender has not maliciously spoofed their identity in order to pass their messages off as being sent from someone they are not.
Q: What other resources do I need to verify a sender identity?
A: In addition to the steps outlined in this document, you may also need to utilize DNS records such as A and CNAME records, as well as SMTP/ESMTP headers.
Q: What are some of the risks associated with failing to verify a sender's identity?
A: Failing to verify a sender identity can lead to a variety of security risks such as phishing, malware, and other malicious activities. It can also damage the reputation of the sender if their emails are flagged as being of suspicious origin.