Domain key identified mail

A very specific and technical topic!

"DomainKey Identified Mail" (DKIM) is a method of authenticating the sender of an email message. It's a way to verify that an email message comes from a legitimate domain and has not been tampered with during transmission.

Here's how it works:

  1. The sender's domain (e.g., example.com) generates a private key and a corresponding public key.
  2. The sender's email server uses the private key to sign the email message with a digital signature.
  3. The digital signature is included in the email message's header.
  4. The recipient's email server verifies the digital signature using the public key.
  5. If the digital signature is valid, the recipient's email server knows that the email message came from a legitimate domain and has not been tampered with.

DKIM uses a combination of cryptographic techniques, including digital signatures and public-key cryptography, to ensure the authenticity and integrity of email messages.

The benefits of using DKIM include:

  1. Improved email deliverability: By verifying the authenticity of email messages, DKIM helps to reduce the risk of spam and phishing emails being delivered to recipients' inboxes.
  2. Enhanced security: DKIM provides an additional layer of security against email spoofing and tampering.
  3. Better reputation management: By using DKIM, senders can demonstrate their commitment to email security and authenticity, which can help to improve their reputation with email providers and recipients.

To implement DKIM, you'll need to:

  1. Generate a private and public key pair using a tool like OpenSSL.
  2. Configure your email server to use the private key to sign email messages.
  3. Publish the public key in a DNS record (TXT record) for your domain.
  4. Configure your email client or server to verify the digital signature using the public key.

If you're interested in learning more about DKIM, I recommend checking out the official DKIM specification document or consulting with a qualified IT professional.