Let us learn more about the DKIM advantages and disadvantages with the support of our Server management support services at Bobcares.

What is DKIM?

Abbreviation for Domain Keys Identified Mail. DKIM is a more secure authentication mechanism than SPF since it use public-key cryptography rather than IP addresses.

The domain owner publishes the cryptographic key and adds it to the domain’s generic DNS record as a TXT record.

How does DKIM work? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

DKIM and SPF both have the ability to add a TXT record to the DNS. However, for DKIM protocols, we must still produce a public and private key.

The message header of a new email sent through the outgoing mail server provides a private key for encrypting the email signature. A DNS TXT record contains the public key hash.

Advantages and disadvantages of using DKIM

Advantages:

• The basic benefit of this approach for email receivers is that it allows the signing domain to consistently record legitimate email traffic. This makes domain-based lists more effective. This makes it easier to detect some forms of phishing assaults.
• DKIM is a method of marking messages; nevertheless, it cannot filter or identify spam on its own; nonetheless, if extensively utilized, it can prevent spammers from tampering with message source addresses. DKIM can assist in identifying mail that is not spam and does not require filtering.

• The implementation of DKIM via DNS records makes it backward compatible with existing email infrastructure. It is particularly imperceptible to current email platforms that do not support DKIM. DKIM supports DNSSEC and SPF standards.
• DKIM has a non-repudiation feature that prevents spammers from convincingly denying sending an email. Media outlets have found this functionality valuable in demonstrating the authenticity and integrity of filtered emails, as it confirms that the emails have not been altered.

Disadvantages or weaknesses:

This signed copy can be forwarded to a large number of recipients without restriction. The email provider can restrict the sender but cannot prevent the previously signed message from being distributed.

Problems might also arise when the relay or filtering application modifies the message. If the sender does not take a specified action, the footer addition that many mailing lists and antivirus systems use will harm the DKIM signature.

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Conclusion

To sum up, our tech support team now took us through the DKIM advantages and disadvantages.