independent.co.uk

independent.co.uk · Last checked 2026-10-04 02:15 UTC

independent.co.uk

Good, with 2 things to fix

independent.co.uk scored 84/100 (grade B). The main issues are DKIM key shorter than 2048 bits and external DMARC report address is not authorized. Detected senders: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Amazon SES, Zendesk and Mandrill.

Checked 2026-10-04 02:15 UTC · fresh check

2 passed2 need attention0 failing4 for informationDetected senders: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Amazon SES, Zendesk, Mandrill

All checks

MXCan servers find your inbox?Only one MX hostInfo
  • Info: Only one MX host

    All mail for independent.co.uk goes to smtp.google.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?No issues foundPass

Nothing to report.

DKIMAre your emails signed?DKIM key shorter than 2048 bitsNeeds attention
  • Warning: DKIM key shorter than 2048 bits

    selector1 (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

    independent.co.uk publishes a DKIM key under google, selector1, k2, k3.

DMARCWhat happens to fakes?External DMARC report address is not authorizedNeeds attention
  • Warning: External DMARC report address is not authorized

    Reports go to dmgmedia.co.uk, which is outside independent.co.uk. RFC 7489 requires that domain to publish a valid v=DMARC1 TXT record at independent.co.uk._report._dmarc.dmgmedia.co.uk; without it receivers will not send you aggregate reports. Your report provider normally publishes this for you.

  • Info: DMARC policy is quarantine; consider reject

    Failing mail goes to spam rather than being refused. When reports show no legitimate failures, reject gives the strongest protection.

    How to fix this
AlignmentDoes it match your From?No issues foundPass

Nothing to report.

BIMICan inboxes show your logo?No BIMI recordInfo
  • Info: No BIMI record

    No BIMI record at default._bimi.independent.co.uk. 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.independent.co.uk. 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.independent.co.uk. TLS-RPT (RFC 8460) tells senders where to send daily reports about failed encrypted deliveries to you.

    How to fix this

How to fix it

Strengthen the DMARC policyTXT

Rejects mail that fails DMARC, the strongest protection against spoofing.

TypeTXT
Name / Host
_dmarc.independent.co.uk

Some DNS providers want just “_dmarc” here.

Value
v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc_a@dmgmedia.co.uk; adkim=r; aspf=r
Replaces
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc_a@dmgmedia.co.uk

Publish the MTA-STS recordTXT

Tells sending servers that independent.co.uk publishes an MTA-STS policy at https://mta-sts.independent.co.uk/.well-known/mta-sts.txt. Change the id whenever the policy file changes.

TypeTXT
Name / Host
_mta-sts.independent.co.uk

Some DNS providers want just “_mta-sts” here.

Value
v=STSv1; id=202610040215

Host the MTA-STS policy filepolicy-file

Serve this file over HTTPS with a valid certificate for mta-sts.independent.co.uk. It lists your MX hosts and starts in testing mode; switch to mode: enforce once TLS-RPT reports show no failures.

Location
https://mta-sts.independent.co.uk/.well-known/mta-sts.txt
Contents
version: STSv1
mode: testing
mx: smtp.google.com
max_age: 604800

Set up a TLS report addressinstruction

Sending servers will report TLS failures when delivering to independent.co.uk, 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.independent.co.uk

  1. Pick an address that will receive TLS reports: a mailbox you read (for example tls-reports@independent.co.uk, created first) or a TLS reporting service. 2. Publish a TXT record at _smtp._tls.independent.co.uk 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.independent.co.uk

  1. 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://independent.co.uk/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.independent.co.uk with v=BIMI1, l= set to the logo URL and a= set to the certificate URL.