hostgator.com
Poor, with 3 things to fix
hostgator.com scored 44/100 (grade D). The main issues are SPF needs more than 10 DNS lookups and DMARC policy is none, plus 2 more. Detected senders: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Salesforce.
Checked 2026-10-04 02:08 UTC · fresh check
Reduce SPF DNS lookups
Evaluating SPF for hostgator.com takes 11 DNS lookups including nested includes; receivers stop at 10 and fail SPF. No detected sending service accounts for these includes; remove each one you no longer send through: spf.constantcontact.com, _spf2.hostgator.com, eig.spf.a.cloudfilter.net, _spf.myorderbox.com, spf.websitewelcome.com. Changes: Added include:_spf.google.com for Google Workspace.
hostgator.com
Some DNS providers want “@” here instead of the full domain.
v=spf1 ip4:209.17.115.0/24 ip4:64.69.218.0/24 include:spf.constantcontact.com include:_spf.salesforce.com include:_spf2.hostgator.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:eig.spf.a.cloudfilter.net include:_spf.myorderbox.com include:spf.websitewelcome.com include:_spf.google.com -all
v=spf1 ip4:209.17.115.0/24 ip4:64.69.218.0/24 include:spf.constantcontact.com include:_spf.salesforce.com include:_spf2.hostgator.com include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:eig.spf.a.cloudfilter.net include:_spf.myorderbox.com include:spf.websitewelcome.com -all
How to apply it
- Sign in where your domain’s DNS is managed. This is often where you bought the domain, such as Cloudflare, GoDaddy or Namecheap.
- Find the existing TXT record with that name and replace its value.
- Save, then come back and re-check. DNS changes can take up to a few hours to show.
All checks
MXCan servers find your inbox?Only one MX hostInfo
- Info: Only one MX host
All mail for hostgator.com goes to hostgator-com.mail.eo.outlook.com. Most hosted providers make that one name highly available; if you run your own server, consider a backup MX.
SPFWho may send as you?SPF needs more than 10 DNS lookupsFailing
- Fail: SPF needs more than 10 DNS lookups
Evaluating the SPF record for hostgator.com needs more than 10 DNS lookups (counting nested includes). Receivers stop at 10 with a permanent error, so SPF fails. Remove unused includes or replace them with IP ranges.
How to fix this - Warning: SPF has no "all" term
Without a closing "all" term, mail from unlisted servers gets a neutral result. End the record with "-all" or "~all".
DKIMAre your emails signed?DKIM key shorter than 2048 bitsNeeds attention
- Warning: DKIM key shorter than 2048 bits
google (1024-bit) uses an RSA key below 2048 bits. Short keys can be factored and some receivers treat them as weak. Rotate to a 2048-bit key at your sending provider.
- Pass: DKIM key published
hostgator.com publishes a DKIM key under google, selector1, s1, s2.
DMARCWhat happens to fakes?DMARC policy is noneNeeds attention
- Warning: DMARC policy is none
A none policy only monitors: mail that fails DMARC is still delivered, so anyone can spoof the domain. Once reports show your legitimate senders pass, move to quarantine and then reject.
How to fix this
AlignmentDoes it match your From?SPF alignment is unknownInfo
- Info: SPF alignment is unknown
The SPF record of hostgator.com can pass for some senders (those matched before the failing part), but another evaluation path ends in a permanent error (spf.lookups.over-limit). Senders that reach that path fail SPF, so whether your mail aligns through SPF is unknown. Fix the error so every path evaluates.
BIMICan inboxes show your logo?No BIMI recordInfo
- Info: No BIMI record
No BIMI record at default._bimi.hostgator.com. BIMI is optional: it shows your logo next to your mail in supporting inboxes once DMARC is enforced.
How to fix this
MTA-STSIs mail to you encrypted?No MTA-STS recordInfo
- Info: No MTA-STS record
No MTA-STS record at _mta-sts.hostgator.com. MTA-STS (RFC 8461) makes sending servers require TLS and a valid certificate when delivering to you, which blocks downgrade attacks.
How to fix this
TLS-RPTWill you hear about failures?No TLS-RPT recordInfo
- Info: No TLS-RPT record
No TLS reporting record at _smtp._tls.hostgator.com. TLS-RPT (RFC 8460) tells senders where to send daily reports about failed encrypted deliveries to you.
How to fix this
Other fixes
Strengthen the DMARC policyTXT
Quarantines 25% of mail that fails DMARC, a safe first step: check the reports for legitimate senders that fail before going further. Changes: Subdomains move one step, from sp=none to the domain policy (p=quarantine).
_dmarc.hostgator.com
Some DNS providers want just “_dmarc” here.
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; pct=25; rua=mailto:re+kgjw4j9bykj@dmarc.postmarkapp.com; adkim=r; aspf=r
v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:re+kgjw4j9bykj@dmarc.postmarkapp.com; sp=none; aspf=r;
Publish the MTA-STS recordTXT
Tells sending servers that hostgator.com publishes an MTA-STS policy at https://mta-sts.hostgator.com/.well-known/mta-sts.txt. Change the id whenever the policy file changes.
_mta-sts.hostgator.com
Some DNS providers want just “_mta-sts” here.
v=STSv1; id=202610040208
Host the MTA-STS policy filepolicy-file
Serve this file over HTTPS with a valid certificate for mta-sts.hostgator.com. It lists your MX hosts and starts in testing mode; switch to mode: enforce once TLS-RPT reports show no failures.
https://mta-sts.hostgator.com/.well-known/mta-sts.txt
version: STSv1 mode: testing mx: hostgator-com.mail.eo.outlook.com max_age: 604800
Set up a TLS report addressinstruction
Sending servers will report TLS failures when delivering to hostgator.com, which you need before enforcing MTA-STS. The address must accept TLS reports; a DMARC report address does not necessarily do so.
Applies to: _smtp._tls.hostgator.com
- Pick an address that will receive TLS reports: a mailbox you read (for example tls-reports@hostgator.com, created first) or a TLS reporting service. 2. Publish a TXT record at _smtp._tls.hostgator.com with the value v=TLSRPTv1; rua=mailto:<that address>.
Prepare BIMIinstruction
BIMI shows your logo next to messages in supporting inboxes, but only for mail that passes DMARC under an enforced policy.
Applies to: default._bimi.hostgator.com
- Enforce DMARC first: p=quarantine or p=reject at 100% (no pct below 100). 2. Convert your logo to an SVG Tiny PS file and host it over HTTPS, for example https://hostgator.com/bimi/logo.svg. 3. For Gmail and Apple Mail, obtain a VMC or CMC certificate for the logo. 4. Publish a TXT record at default._bimi.hostgator.com with v=BIMI1, l= set to the logo URL and a= set to the certificate URL.