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Home / Email / DKIM
Email Authentication
What is DKIM?
DKIM, short for DomainKeys Identified Mail, is an email authentication method that lets a sending domain attach a cryptographic signature to a message so receiving systems can verify that the message was authorized and was not altered in transit.
What it is
DKIM is an email authentication standard used to help prove that a message came from a domain that approved it.
It works by adding a digital signature to the message and letting receiving mail systems validate that signature using a public key published in DNS.
How it works
When a mail server sends a message with DKIM enabled, it signs selected parts of the message using a private key.
The receiving system looks up the corresponding public key in DNS and checks whether the signature matches. If it does, the receiving system gains more confidence that the message was not tampered with and was authorized by the sending domain.
Why it matters in real life
DKIM matters because email spoofing and impersonation are common problems.
It is one of the core building blocks of modern email security, especially when combined with SPF and DMARC.
Common misconceptions
A common misconception is that DKIM by itself solves all email security problems. It helps, but it works best as part of a broader email authentication setup.
Another misconception is that DKIM is the same thing as SPF. They are related, but they solve different parts of email trust.
Related questions
What is DKIM in simple terms?
It is a way for a sending domain to sign email so receiving systems can verify that the message was authorized and not changed.
Why does DKIM matter?
Because it helps improve email trust and reduces some spoofing and tampering risks.
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