Do not use mail forwarding rules to external domains
A security best practice!
Not using mail forwarding rules to external domains is a good practice to prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks. Here's why:
What are mail forwarding rules?
Mail forwarding rules, also known as mail forwarding or email forwarding, allow you to forward incoming emails from one email address to another. This can be useful for redirecting emails to a different account or for archiving purposes.
Why is it a security risk to use mail forwarding rules to external domains?
When you set up a mail forwarding rule to forward emails to an external domain, you're essentially allowing an attacker to use your email server as a relay to send spam or phishing emails. Here's how it works:
- An attacker sends an email from an external domain to your email server.
- Your email server receives the email and forwards it to the external domain using the mail forwarding rule.
- The external domain receives the email and thinks it came from your email server, not the attacker's domain.
- The attacker can now use your email server as a relay to send spam or phishing emails to other recipients, making it appear as if the emails came from your domain.
How to prevent this security risk?
To prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks, it's recommended to:
- Disable mail forwarding rules to external domains.
- Use SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records to specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.
- Use DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to sign your emails with a digital signature, making it harder for attackers to forge your domain.
- Implement DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) to help prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.
By following these best practices, you can help protect your email domain from being used for malicious activities and prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.