DomainKeys Identified Mail, or DKIM, is a method for confirming the authenticity of an email by using a digital signature. When DomainKeys Identified Mail is activated for a given domain name, a public key is published to the global DNS system and a private one is stored on the mail server. When a new email message is sent, a signature is issued using the private key and when the message is received, that signature is ‘scanned’ by the POP3/IMAP server using the public key. In this way, the receiver can easily tell if the message is authentic or if the sender’s address has been forged. A discrepancy will appear if the content of the email has been changed in the meantime as well, so DomainKeys Identified Mail can also be used to make sure that the sent and the received emails are identical and that nothing has been added or deleted. This validation system will heighten your email security, as you can validate the genuineness of the important emails that you receive and your associates can do the same with the email messages that you send them. Based on the given mail service provider’s policy, an email message that fails to pass the check may be removed or may enter the receiver’s inbox with a warning symbol.