SPF
Definition
Sender Policy Framework. A DNS TXT record on the sender domain that lists the IP addresses authorised to send mail for that domain. The receiver compares the connecting IP against the SPF record.
Related terms
- DKIM
- DomainKeys Identified Mail. A cryptographic signature placed in a DKIM-Signature header. The signing key sits on the sending server; the public key...
- DMARC
- Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance. A DNS policy that stacks on top of SPF and DKIM, telling receivers what to do...
- MTA
- Mail Transfer Agent. The server that relays mail server-to-server. Postfix, Exim, Sendmail and Microsoft Exchange are the common implementations. Speaks SMTP.
- MUA
- Mail User Agent. The client the user sees. Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Gmail web, Spark, mobile apps. Speaks SMTP outbound and IMAP...
- Received Header
- A header line prepended by each mail server that accepts a message in transit, recording the server's own identity, the IP or...
Explained in
- Email Forensics: Protocols, Header Tracing, Spoofed MailSender Policy Framework. A DNS TXT record on the sender domain that lists the IP addresses authorised to send mail for that domain. The receiver compares the c...