Reject fake messages from your Subscribers (using SPF).

Traditionally, Mailing Lists would process emails from Subscribers without regard to the origin of the message.

With increasing amounts of spam and malware being sent using "spoofed" email addresses, it is now prudent to verify the origin of the email using SPF (Sender Policy Framework).

What is Sender Policy Framework?

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) allows all domains to declare what IP addresses their emails will be sent from. These settings are made in the Domain Name System (DNS) by each domain.

How does Mail-List.com verify sender IPs?

Mail-List.com can read the SPF settings before releasing any message to your Mailing List.

If the Subscriber has defined SPF settings to reject any email not from their pre-approved IP addresses, we send the email to the Moderator for approval.

Do all domains use SPF?

No. Therefore, not all your Subscribers (or their domains) will have defined SPF settings.

If your Subscriber's domain has not defined their SPF settings, then Mail-List.com has nothing to verify the origin of the email. Therefore, all email messages will be sent to your Mailing List including fake emails.

To turn this option off

Log into your mail-list account at https://database.mail-list.com.

  • Click Customize Your List.
  • Click Miscellaneous Settings.
  • Click Reject Subscriber Messages.....
  • Click Yes.
  • Click Save.

In this same Menu, you can also choose to enforce DKIM settings (DomainKeys Identified Mail). DKIM tries to verify the sender email address was not forged.

For more information about these email verification options, please see SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.