SPF follow-up

Even if this subject isn't exactly on topic at Ringlink-open, I suppose that many of you own one or more domains, and thus have at least some interest...

I have now added SPF data to the few domains on my nameserver. Realizing that that won't make a big difference on the whole, I can't help wondering how the message actually is spread. I, for instance, coincidentally read about it in a Usenet group.

This is obviously not a problem for the domains of the big web sites, managed by professional IT staff. But what about all the small domains? I mean, while many domain owners don't even know what DNS is, SPF data can't reasonably be added without a decision of respective owner. How will they get to know?

I suppose that spreading the message is very much up to the providers of nameserver services, i.e. some web hosting providers, DNS service specialists etc. Every such company should contact their customers, inform them about SPF, and help them add the SPF data (or provide the necessary tools so respective domain owner can do it).

It would be interesting to know if those of you who own your domains have been approached by the applicable provider.

SPF data make it *possible* to take that info into consideration when filtering spam. Another side of it is the question James asked the other day, i.e. to which extent have the receiving mail servers actually been configured to *use* SPF info for that purpose.

Please feel welcome to post your thoughts and share your experiences.

/ Gunnar