The controversy surrounding authentication
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 9:55 am
The main problem facing ESPs today starts and ends with how each email is processed . For example, with Gmail and Yahoo!, both can treat emails that fail the authentication detection test the same way. Gmail and Yahoo! managers can simply choose to block the email altogether, which is a quick and easy way to handle any forged headers, sent fields, and other fraudulent data.
Meanwhile, MSN Mail and AOL could handle the situation in a completely different way. They could choose to include a message in the email saying that the sender cannot be identified or take a completely different approach.
The big unknown is the thousands of free and paid email services, some of which may not use authentication at all. In that case, you may find that email unintentionally sent in your name, promoting herbal products or lottery prizes, can land in your inbox, uninterrupted and unverified.
The good news is that the major ESPs use authentication as a standard practice. And since they are the major ESPs used by the vast majority of email users, there's a good chance that authentication will save you from spam complaints and preserve your online reputation. And there's a good chance that, with smaller email service providers, you can show your authentication records as a way to prove that you're not a spammer and that the spam complaints were very undeserved.
It's not a question of "what if...", but of "when"
Unfortunately, as much as we see the typical phishing belarus telegram lead asking for money or promoting lottery prizes, phishers are becoming more sophisticated by the day. It is not at all uncommon to come across a phishing team that is much more educated and creative than its predecessors, making authentication a must for any email marketer looking at the long-term.
The new generation of phishing emails matches the headers or fields of the type of company they want to appear to be sending from. So, if you run a small bank, it's entirely possible that your email identity could be hijacked to send a very legitimate-looking form requesting detailed account details, fooling many recipients in the process.
There will soon come a day when the obviousness of phishing and spam will disappear. We will no longer see the bank verification email sent from the fake headers of a clothing store, but more likely, as mentioned above, more bank verification emails sent from real banks.
For this reason, and because of the unknown of what else spammers might come up with to tilt the system in their favor, we recommend that you implement at least one, if not two, authentication methods. If you want to keep your email marketing reputation pristine in the face of so many growing threats, authentication is simply a must, especially if you have a medium to large list.
Meanwhile, MSN Mail and AOL could handle the situation in a completely different way. They could choose to include a message in the email saying that the sender cannot be identified or take a completely different approach.
The big unknown is the thousands of free and paid email services, some of which may not use authentication at all. In that case, you may find that email unintentionally sent in your name, promoting herbal products or lottery prizes, can land in your inbox, uninterrupted and unverified.
The good news is that the major ESPs use authentication as a standard practice. And since they are the major ESPs used by the vast majority of email users, there's a good chance that authentication will save you from spam complaints and preserve your online reputation. And there's a good chance that, with smaller email service providers, you can show your authentication records as a way to prove that you're not a spammer and that the spam complaints were very undeserved.
It's not a question of "what if...", but of "when"
Unfortunately, as much as we see the typical phishing belarus telegram lead asking for money or promoting lottery prizes, phishers are becoming more sophisticated by the day. It is not at all uncommon to come across a phishing team that is much more educated and creative than its predecessors, making authentication a must for any email marketer looking at the long-term.
The new generation of phishing emails matches the headers or fields of the type of company they want to appear to be sending from. So, if you run a small bank, it's entirely possible that your email identity could be hijacked to send a very legitimate-looking form requesting detailed account details, fooling many recipients in the process.
There will soon come a day when the obviousness of phishing and spam will disappear. We will no longer see the bank verification email sent from the fake headers of a clothing store, but more likely, as mentioned above, more bank verification emails sent from real banks.
For this reason, and because of the unknown of what else spammers might come up with to tilt the system in their favor, we recommend that you implement at least one, if not two, authentication methods. If you want to keep your email marketing reputation pristine in the face of so many growing threats, authentication is simply a must, especially if you have a medium to large list.