Summary
Mail.ru enforces stringent DMARC, SPF, and DKIM requirements to ensure email authentication and prevent abuse. While initial reports suggest a need for both SPF and DKIM alignment, Mail.ru documentation indicates that either a valid SPF record or DKIM signature is required, with matching domains in the 'From' address, 'envelope-from', and DKIM signature's 'd' tag. Failing to meet these requirements can lead to deliverability issues, including blocked emails. To avoid these problems, senders should implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC; monitor DMARC reports; ensure accurate SPF record configuration; and maintain consistency across domain-related information.
Key findings
- DMARC Enforcement: Mail.ru is enforcing stricter DMARC policies, potentially blocking emails lacking proper alignment.
- SPF/DKIM Requirement: A valid SPF record or DKIM signature is required for authentication.
- Domain Alignment: Domains in the 'From', 'envelope-from', and DKIM 'd' tag must match.
- General Authentication: DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are crucial for secure email delivery across major ISPs.
- Monitor DMARC: DMARC reports provide insights into deliverability issues.
Key considerations
- Implement All Three: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure compliance and improve deliverability.
- Domain Consistency: Ensure the 'From', 'envelope-from', and DKIM 'd' tag domains are consistent.
- SPF Configuration: Accurately configure and validate SPF records.
- DMARC Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports for potential issues.
- Review Policies: Stay updated with Mail.ru's deliverability policies, as they may change.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Mail.ru enforces specific requirements for DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to ensure email authentication and prevent abuse. Senders lacking proper DMARC alignment or valid SPF/DKIM configurations risk deliverability issues, including potential blocking. It's important to check and monitor DMARC reports and to ensure your records are configured correctly and matching.
Key opinions
- DMARC Alignment: Mail.ru requires DMARC alignment; failure to align can result in blocked emails.
- SPF/DKIM Requirement: Mail.ru requires either a valid SPF record or a DKIM signature for authentication.
- Domain Matching: The domains in the 'From' address, 'envelope-from', and the DKIM signature's 'd' tag must match.
- Stricter Policies: Mail.ru is known to have stricter DMARC policies compared to some other providers.
- Blocking Senders: Mail.ru has been observed blocking emails from senders with improper SPF/DKIM setup.
Key considerations
- Implement Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to comply with Mail.ru's requirements and improve email deliverability.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Regularly check DMARC reports to identify and address any deliverability issues.
- Ensure Proper Setup: Carefully configure and validate SPF and DKIM records to avoid misconfiguration and potential blocking.
- Domain Consistency: Ensure that all domain-related information (From, envelope-from, DKIM 'd' tag) matches to meet Mail.ru's alignment requirements.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit mentions that SPF and DKIM are baseline requirements for almost all major email providers, including Mail.ru, and suggests ensuring proper setup and regular monitoring of these protocols.
13 Oct 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares a translated message from Mail.ru stating SPF or DKIM is required and the domains must match.
26 Nov 2023 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
These sources emphasize the importance of DMARC, DKIM, and SPF for email authentication and deliverability, especially with providers having strict policies. Key aspects include setting up and monitoring DMARC reports, and ensuring accurate SPF record configuration for proper authentication and alignment.
Key opinions
- Importance of DMARC/DKIM/SPF: DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are crucial for secure email delivery across major ISPs.
- DMARC Monitoring: Setting up and regularly monitoring DMARC reports is essential, particularly for email service providers with strict authentication policies.
- Accurate SPF Records: Accuracy and validation in SPF record configuration are paramount for proper email authentication.
Key considerations
- Implement Authentication: Ensure DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are implemented to comply with ISP requirements.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address deliverability issues.
- Validate SPF Records: Validate SPF records to ensure accuracy and proper authentication, particularly for providers with strict SPF alignment requirements.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise highlights the best practices for SPF record configuration, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and validation to ensure proper email authentication, especially when dealing with providers that require strict SPF alignment.
19 Jan 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource discusses the importance of setting up and regularly monitoring DMARC reports, particularly for email service providers that have strict authentication policies, which includes the need to ensure valid and aligned SPF and DKIM records.
1 Oct 2024 - SpamResource
What the documentation says
6 technical articles
Mail.ru requires senders to have either a valid SPF record or DKIM signature, with matching domains across 'From', 'envelope-from', and the DKIM 'd' tag. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enhances deliverability and sender reputation, particularly for bulk mail senders. DMARC alignment, incorporating both SPF and DKIM checks, is crucial for meeting Mail.ru's authentication requirements. DKIM verifies email authenticity, and SPF specifies authorized mail servers, both of which are key components for compliance.
Key findings
- SPF or DKIM Required: Mail.ru mandates either a valid SPF record or a DKIM signature for email authentication.
- Domain Matching: The domains in the 'From' address, 'envelope-from', and DKIM 'd' tag must match for alignment.
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC Benefits: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC improves deliverability and protects sender/recipient reputation.
- DMARC Alignment Essential: DMARC alignment, involving SPF and DKIM checks, is crucial for meeting requirements of providers like Mail.ru.
- Bulk Mail Authentication: Proper authentication is especially important for bulk mail senders to avoid deliverability issues.
Key considerations
- Implement SPF/DKIM: Implement either SPF or DKIM to meet Mail.ru's basic authentication requirement.
- Ensure Domain Alignment: Verify that the domains across 'From', 'envelope-from', and DKIM 'd' tag are consistent.
- Implement DMARC: Implement DMARC to enhance email security and deliverability; aligning SPF and DKIM is crucial.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Continuously monitor DMARC reports to track and improve email deliverability performance.
- Authentication for Bulk Mail: Pay special attention to authentication if sending bulk emails to maintain good deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from Mail.ru highlights the importance of proper authentication for bulk mail senders, indicating that a lack of authentication can lead to deliverability issues. They strongly advise using SPF and DKIM.
18 Jan 2024 - Mail.ru
Technical article
Documentation from Mail.ru explains that using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC improves deliverability and protects senders' and recipients' reputations. It recommends implementing these authentication methods and continuously monitoring DMARC reports to improve email security and deliverability.
9 Oct 2024 - Mail.ru
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