Summary
The compilation of responses reveals several critical issues regarding DMARC service companies and the management of cousin domains. Some DMARC providers engage in unethical practices, such as scraping websites for email addresses and sending unsolicited emails, which ironically undermines the purpose of DMARC. Unsecured cousin domains pose significant security risks, as they can be exploited for brand impersonation and phishing attacks. Implementing strict DMARC policies without proper configuration or alignment can inadvertently block legitimate emails from cousin domains, impacting deliverability and business communication. Furthermore, managing DMARC across a diverse portfolio of domains, particularly with multiple teams or vendors involved, presents challenges due to inconsistent policies and a lack of visibility and control. Regular monitoring of DMARC reports is essential to detect and address these issues promptly. Overall, the effective management of DMARC and cousin domains requires ethical service providers, consistent policies, careful configuration, and continuous monitoring to maintain email security and deliverability.
Key findings
- Unethical Scraping: Some DMARC service providers use unethical practices like scraping websites for email addresses and sending spam.
- Cousin Domain Exploitation: Unsecured cousin domains are susceptible to brand impersonation and phishing attacks.
- Inadvertent Blocking: Strict DMARC policies can unintentionally block legitimate emails from cousin domains if not properly configured.
- Management Complexity: Managing DMARC across multiple domains with different teams or vendors leads to inconsistent policies and a lack of control.
- Monitoring Deficit: Failure to regularly monitor DMARC reports results in undetected issues and potential email blocking.
Key considerations
- Vendor Due Diligence: Conduct thorough due diligence when selecting DMARC service providers to avoid those with questionable practices.
- Consistent Policies: Establish consistent DMARC policies across all domains, including cousin domains and subdomains, to maintain uniformity.
- Careful Configuration: Configure DMARC policies meticulously to prevent inadvertently blocking legitimate emails from related domains.
- Centralized Control: Implement centralized management for DMARC across all domains to ensure consistent enforcement and oversight.
- Continuous Monitoring: Actively and continuously monitor DMARC reports to promptly identify and address any issues related to cousin domains or policy misconfigurations.
What email marketers say
7 marketer opinions
Several issues arise with DMARC service companies and the management of cousin domains. Some DMARC service providers engage in aggressive scraping techniques to find email addresses, leading to spam and reputation damage. Cousin domains, if not properly secured with DMARC, can be used for brand impersonation and phishing attacks. Enforcing strict DMARC policies without careful configuration can inadvertently block legitimate emails from cousin domains, impacting domain reputation and deliverability. Managing DMARC across multiple domains, especially when different teams or vendors are involved, poses challenges due to inconsistent policies. Actively monitoring DMARC reports across all domains is crucial to catch issues early and prevent email blocking.
Key opinions
- Aggressive Scraping: Some DMARC service providers use aggressive scraping techniques for email addresses, leading to spam.
- Brand Impersonation: Unsecured cousin domains can be used to impersonate brands, increasing phishing risks.
- Inadvertent Blocking: Strict DMARC policies can block legitimate emails from cousin domains if not properly configured.
- Management Challenges: Managing DMARC across multiple domains with different teams can lead to policy inconsistencies.
- Lack of Monitoring: Failure to actively monitor DMARC reports results in missed issues and potential email blocking.
Key considerations
- Due Diligence: Perform due diligence when selecting DMARC service providers to avoid those with questionable practices.
- Consistent Policies: Ensure consistent DMARC policies across all domains, including cousin domains and subdomains.
- Careful Configuration: Configure DMARC policies carefully to avoid inadvertently blocking legitimate emails from related domains.
- Centralized Management: Implement centralized management for DMARC across all domains, even if different teams are responsible.
- Active Monitoring: Actively monitor DMARC reports to identify and address issues related to cousin domains promptly.
Marketer view
Email marketer from StackExchange explains that DMARC enforcement, particularly with a 'reject' policy, can inadvertently block legitimate emails if cousin domains or subdomains aren't properly configured. This impacts domain reputation.
29 Jul 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view
Email marketer from dmarcian explains that managing DMARC across a portfolio of domains (including cousin domains) can be challenging, especially if they're managed by different teams or vendors. This can lead to inconsistent policies and increased vulnerability to attacks.
21 May 2023 - dmarcian
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
The provided answers highlight several issues related to DMARC service companies and their interaction with cousin domains. Some DMARC service companies engage in practices such as scraping websites for email addresses and sending spam without proper unsubscribe mechanisms. This practice is ironic when these companies also use cousin domains to bypass spam filters, even implementing a p=reject policy on those domains. Conversely, a DMARC policy of p=reject on marketing domains can ensure that only legitimate email is sent. These practices have implications for deliverability and reputation.
Key opinions
- Scraping and Spam: DMARC service companies may scrape websites for email addresses and send spam without proper consent.
- Cousin Domain Abuse: Cousin domains can be used by DMARC companies to bypass spam filters, even with a p=reject policy in place.
- p=reject Benefits: A DMARC policy of p=reject on marketing domains helps ensure only legitimate email is sent.
Key considerations
- Ethical Practices: DMARC service companies should adhere to ethical practices regarding email address acquisition and sending.
- Domain Reputation: Consider the impact of using cousin domains on domain reputation and deliverability.
- Policy Enforcement: Implement and enforce appropriate DMARC policies (e.g., p=reject) on marketing domains to improve email authentication.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains a DMARC service company scraped websites for addresses and spammed them without unsubscribe links or postal addresses. They highlight the irony of a DMARC company using a cousin domain to avoid getting blocked for spamming, even though the cousin domain had a p=reject policy.
24 Jun 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that some DMARC service companies scrape websites for email addresses to expand their reach, often without proper consent or unsubscribe mechanisms, which can negatively impact the reputation of both the service and the domains involved.
9 Jun 2024 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
The provided documentation and expert opinion highlight key issues with DMARC management concerning cousin domains. Without proper management, cousin domains can be spoofed for phishing, harming the primary domain's reputation and overall security. Lack of visibility and control over indirectly managed domains can cause problems, emphasizing the need for regular audits. Poorly implemented DMARC policies, especially with 'reject' settings and alignment failures, can block legitimate emails. Domain alignment issues between parent and cousin domains, coupled with strict policies, can lead to legitimate emails being blocked.
Key findings
- Spoofing Risk: Cousin domains without proper DMARC management can be spoofed for phishing attacks.
- Lack of Visibility: DMARC implementation can be problematic due to a lack of visibility and control over cousin domains.
- Blocking Legitimate Emails: Poorly implemented DMARC policies can inadvertently block legitimate emails from cousin domains.
- Alignment Issues: Domain alignment issues between parent and cousin domains can cause emails to be blocked.
Key considerations
- Careful Management: Carefully manage DMARC policies across all related domains, including cousin domains.
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits and monitoring of DMARC reports to maintain visibility and control.
- Gradual Implementation: Implement DMARC policies gradually, especially when using 'reject' settings.
- Domain Alignment: Ensure proper domain alignment between parent and cousin domains to avoid blocking legitimate emails.
Technical article
Documentation from Google shares that failing to properly manage DMARC records on related domains (cousin domains) leaves you susceptible to domain spoofing and phishing attacks. This compromises the overall security posture of your organization.
7 Jun 2023 - Google
Technical article
Email marketer from ReturnPath explains that domain alignment issues in DMARC can occur between parent domains and subdomains/cousin domains. If your DMARC policy is configured to be strict, and alignment fails for these other domains, your emails may be blocked, even if they are legitimate.
24 Nov 2021 - ReturnPath
Are there GDPR concerns related to IP addresses in DMARC reporting?
Do DMARC and BIMI require p=reject to be present on the organizational domain?
How can DMARC reports be enriched with user-level data for better domain enforcement?
How can I prevent brand and sender profile impersonation in emails and what actions can I take?
How can I use DMARC to prevent spammers from using my domain?
What are affordable DMARC service alternatives for small businesses?
