DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication method that uses cryptographic signatures to help verify a message was authorized by a domain and was not altered in transit. It matters because mail systems benefit from a way to validate message integrity and domain-linked authorization beyond server source alone.
What is DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM)?
A sending system signs parts of the message with a private key, while receivers fetch the public key from DNS to validate the signature. DKIM helps prove that the message aligns with a domain-controlled signing process.
What DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Commonly Supports
Common uses include email authentication, anti-spoofing programs, deliverability improvement, and DMARC evaluation.
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) vs. Unsigned Email
DKIM adds cryptographic message validation. Unsigned mail provides weaker integrity and domain authorization evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is DKIM useful?
Because it helps receivers tell whether the message still matches what the sending domain authorized.
Does DKIM prove the sender is benign?
No. A malicious or compromised sender can still sign harmful mail legitimately.
