Written by Matt Elvin – Head of Technical Services at Gradian
In recent months, a number of companies have found themselves in the crosshairs of a wave of sophisticated ransomware attacks. These incidents have not only disrupted operations and compromised sensitive customer data but have also revealed a troubling vulnerability: email spoofing.
At the heart of many of these attacks lies a simple yet powerful tactic, impersonation via email. This is where DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) plays a crucial role in bolstering email security and trust.
The Spoofing Problem
Email spoofing occurs when a cybercriminal forges the “From” address in an email header to make the message appear as though it’s coming from a trusted sender—often a well-known brand or company. For retailers, this can be devastating. Fake emails that look like customer service updates, invoices, or delivery notifications can lure recipients into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful attachments.
Spoofing is commonly used as a delivery method for phishing emails and ransomware payloads, both of which have been prevalent in the recent retail sector breaches.
What is DMARC?
DMARC is an email authentication protocol that builds on two existing mechanisms: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). When implemented properly, DMARC tells receiving email servers how to handle messages that fail these authentication checks—whether to quarantine, reject, or allow them through.
More importantly, DMARC provides visibility into who is sending emails on behalf of your domain. This helps organisations detect and stop abuse before it escalates.
Why Retailers Must Act Now!
Retailers are uniquely vulnerable to spoofing attacks because of their extensive use of email for customer interactions, promotions, delivery tracking, and support. A single spoofed message can erode customer trust, damage brand reputation, and serve as the entry point for a costly ransomware infection.
Here’s what implementing DMARC can do for retail businesses:
- Protect customers from phishing scams impersonating your brand.
- Prevent ransomware spread through fake internal or customer-facing emails.
- Gain control over your domain and who is allowed to send mail on its behalf.
- Build trust with email providers and customers by improving email deliverability and authenticity.
Taking the First Steps
Implementing DMARC doesn’t require overhauling your infrastructure. The basic steps are:
- Set up SPF and DKIM on your domain.
- Publish a DMARC policy in your DNS records, starting with “none” to monitor email flow.
- Review DMARC reports to understand who’s sending email from your domain.
- Gradually move to a stricter policy (quarantine or reject) as you gain confidence.
Final Thoughts
The recent ransomware wave has served as a wake-up call for the retail sector. Email security cannot be an afterthought, especially when attackers are exploiting something as simple as domain spoofing.
DMARC is not a silver bullet, but it’s one of the most effective tools retailers can deploy today to harden their email infrastructure, protect customers, and keep ransomware at bay.
Essential for Safeguarding Your Business and Customers
At Gradian, we specialise in helping organisations navigate the complex landscape of email security and DMARC implementation. Our team of experts understand the unique challenges facing businesses and can provide tailored solutions to strengthen your email authentication protocols, reduce phishing risks, and protect your brand reputation.
Don’t wait until your business becomes the next ransomware headline – get in touch with us today to learn how we can help fortify your email security infrastructure and keep your business secure in an increasingly dangerous digital landscape.