OpenSPF Homepage Gone: What Now?
Released in 2003, the OpenSPF.org website quickly became a popular starting point for developers and mail server administrators implementing SPF rules. SPF stands for Sender Policy Framework, and it's a widely used tool to fight spam. The site also served as a resource for those interested in getting involved in the community of v SPF1 developers and maintainers.
Unfortunately, OpenSPF.org disappeared from the internet in February 2019. We have prepared an OpenSPF.org introduction that will teach you more about the origins and purpose of the tool. Also, we took some time to try to understand what happened to the website. We also attempt to identify some resources that are still available to fill the void left by the homepage's demise.
Origins of OpenSPF.org
OpenSPF.org provided information about SPF and its benefits, along with news, tools for configuring SPF, forums, and FAQs.
SPF is a method of informing servers whether a specific email server is authorized to send an email from a particular domain. Hence, it can detect whether an email address is authentic or fake before allowing it to pass into an inbox.
An SPF record increases the likelihood that an email sent by a valid domain name is delivered. Without it, your email could be categorized as spam. It also protects against malicious email sent through your domain by spammers.
Meng Weng Wong is widely credited as the creator of SPF. However, he culled inspiration from various sources. Paul Vixie's paper Repudiating Mail-From led to two proposals: Reverse MX by Hadmut Danisch and Designated Mailer Protocol by Gordon Feyck. Wong combined these proposals to create OpenSPF in 2003. The volunteer groups involved in the v SPF1 project included the SPF council, a support team, webmasters, and mailing list moderators.
What Happened to OpenSPF.org?
OpenSPF simply disappeared from the internet. There was never an official announcement of its closure, and the last archive of the site is from February 2019. In April 2019, users of the online platform Reddit were still trying to find out what happened to the site. Some users attributed the demise of the site to a lack of funds.
While OpenSPF.org may no longer be available, several websites and tools are still useful for those writing and testing SPF rules for their email servers.
OpenSPF.org Tools
These sites provide tools similar to those of OpenSPF.org.
Kitterman Technical Services
This website offers tools for setting up an SPF record. Kitterman's tools are unique and employ Python software known as pyspf. One of the available tests assesses whether your records are valid. Another test checks the performance of your SPF records based on the IP domain name from which the email comes.
Appmaildev.com
Appmaildev.com is another site that allows users to test their SPF records. You are given a test email domain name to which you can send an email. After that, an SPF report is generated. Appmaildev.com also has tutorials available for adding signatures and stopping spam emails. For less-advanced users, SPF-related topics can be tricky, making this a handy tool.
MX Toolbox
MX Toolbox allows users to look up their SPF records. With this website, users can publish a list of domains that are authorized to send an email on their behalf. This list ensures that malicious email senders have nowhere to hide, thereby reducing spam in the process. You can also check whether your email server has been blacklisted through blacklist check.
Bevhost.com
Beveridge Hosting DNS Lookup is a tool made available by the web hosting company bevhost.com. It provides you with a form where you can simply enter a hostname or IP address. The site will then verify whether the hostname or IP address is authentic.
SPF-Related News
If you're looking for news on SPF, several websites can provide helpful information.
Proofpoint
This blog offers useful SPF news. While it is not exclusively focused on v SPF1, it has several articles on both that topic and security awareness, a helpful subject for those seeking to protect their domains from spam. You'll also find some articles that look at whom cybercriminals are targeting and offer tips for fraud defense.
Active Campaign
This site shows users how to set up SPF records, as well as how to verify that the SPF records have been set up correctly. It also looks at using Google Postmaster to check your domain's credibility. This verification process is vital because you remain vulnerable to threats if you have not set up your SPF in the right way.
Community
The following websites provide FAQ sections that answer important questions on SPF.
Salesforce
The American software company Salesforce's website has a FAQ section dedicated to SPF. The section provides information on how SPF records look, why they're important, and details on how to create them.
Cisco
Cisco is a technology conglomerate that makes and sells telecommunications equipment. The company's FAQ section answers important questions for SPF users. Beyond helping users get their records, it also provides answers on how to enable SPF check for spam.
Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft is an email marketing and sales platform. The platform explains how SPF works and how to set up a record. People sending email through Infusionsoft don't need an SPF record; the firm handles this on their behalf. The site also provides a guide for configuring your SPF records.
Mailtrap
Mailtrap by railsware is a service for marketers, developers, and QAs to test email deliverability. Their guide on email authentication covers how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC works and gives examples of records for each of these protocols.
Wrap Up
OpenSPF was a very important starting point for people looking for information related to SPF. Even though it doesn't exist anymore, there are some tools and websites that can provide similar services, such as Kitterman Technical Services or Appmaildev.com.
We have researched and found multiple sources that have similar features to SPF.org and the same goal: helping you reduce spam, ensuring that authentic email domain names are not blocked, and giving people who deal with SPF-related issues a chance to find answers to any challenges they encounter. If you loved using OpenSPF, make sure to check out its alternatives!
FAQ
What is OpenSPF?
SPF is a method of informing servers whether a certain email server is authorized to send an email to a particular domain.OpenSPF was a website and tool that provided information about SPF and its benefits. In addition, it also offered news, tools for configuring SPF, forums, and FAQs.
What is SPF email authentication?
SPF stands for Sender Policy Framework. It is an email validation method designed to detect forged sender addresses while the delivery of an email takes place. It is important to point out that SPF alone is limited to detecting a forged sender claimed in the envelope of the email, which is used when the email gets bounced.
Does SPF prevent spoofing?
SPF is an email authentication system designed to block spam by detecting email spoofing. Therefore, an SPF record can reduce the likelihood of your domain name getting fraudulently spoofed. Also, it can keep your messages from getting flagged as spam before they reach your recipients.