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What does the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) aim to prevent?

  1. Data loss during transmission

  2. Mail spoofing

  3. Unauthorized access to servers

  4. DNS resolution errors

The correct answer is: Mail spoofing

The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is designed specifically to prevent mail spoofing, which occurs when a sender's email address is forged. This technique is often used in phishing attacks to trick recipients into believing the email is from a trusted source. SPF works by allowing domain owners to specify which mail servers are permitted to send email on behalf of their domain through a DNS TXT record. When an email is received, the recipient’s mail server can check this record to confirm that the email is coming from an authorized server. If the sending server is not listed in the SPF record for that domain, the recipient's server can flag or reject the email, thus mitigating the risk of spoofing. The other options relate to different security concerns. Data loss during transmission pertains to issues with data integrity and security rather than email legitimacy. Unauthorized access to servers relates to overall cybersecurity practices, which are not targeted by SPF specifically. DNS resolution errors involve problems with translating domain names to IP addresses, which is outside the scope of SPF's functionality. In summary, SPF's primary focus is to reduce the likelihood of email spoofing, thereby enhancing email security.