DomainKeys Identified Mail, or DKIM, is a method for verifying the legitimacy of an email message by using a digital signature. When DKIM is activated for a certain domain name, a public encryption key is published to the global DNS system and a private one is stored on the mail server. When a new message is sent, a signature is generated using the private key and when the message is delivered, that signature is verified by the incoming POP3/IMAP email server using the public key. In this way, the receiver can easily recognize if the email is authentic or if the sender’s email address has been forged. A discrepancy will occur if the content of the email has been changed in the meantime as well, so DomainKeys Identified Mail can also be used to ensure that the sent and the received email messages are identical and that nothing has been attached or deleted. This validation system will enhance your email security, since you can verify the authenticity of the important emails that you receive and your associates can do likewise with the email messages that you send them. Based on the given mail service provider’s adopted policies, an email message that fails to pass the check may be removed or may reach the recipient’s inbox with a warning sign.
