How Hackers Send Emails Using Real Company Domains

In the world of cybersecurity, domain reputation is everything. If an attacker can send an email from your domain, they inherit your trust. This is known as Domain Impersonation.

The DMARC Failure Point

Most organizations have SPF and DKIM set up, but many fail at the final step: DMARC Enforcement. A DMARC record can have three "Policies":

• p=none: Just monitor and report. Don't block anything. (High Risk)
• p=quarantine: Put suspicious emails in the spam folder. (Medium Risk)
• p=reject: Completely block unauthorized emails. (Low Risk)

If your record is set to none, you are essentially telling the world's email servers: "I know who is allowed to send email for me, but if someone else does it, let them through anyway."

Prevention Steps for IT Teams

1. Audit your records: Check for syntax errors in your TXT records.
2. Move to 'Reject': Gradually move your DMARC policy from none to quarantine, and finally reject.
3. Monitor Geolocation: Use tools like our Public IP Inspector to verify where your authorized sending servers are actually located.

Ensuring your domain is secure prevents your brand from being used in phishing campaigns that harm your customers. For a quick audit, run your domain through our Email Spoofing Analyzer.