What is SPF?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email validation system designed to prevent email spoofing. It specifies which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain.
How This Tool Works:
- The tool fetches TXT records for the domain.
- It filters for a record that begins with v=spf1.
- The SPF record is then parsed into its components (e.g., ip4, include, mx, and the all mechanism).
Interpreting the Results:
For example, if the SPF record is:
The parsed output might display:
- Version: v=spf1
- ip4: 192.0.2.0/24
- include: _spf.google.com
- Mechanism: ~all (a soft-fail policy)
Best Practices:
- Ensure that your SPF record starts with v=spf1.
- Use valid mechanisms such as ip4, ip6, mx, include, and an appropriate policy (all with qualifiers like ~all or -all).
- A missing or misconfigured SPF record can affect your email deliverability and leave your domain vulnerable to spoofing.