Backscatterers and How to Manage Them Effectively

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Backscatterers are a significant concern in the world of email deliverability and cybersecurity. They are often misunderstood, and their impact on legitimate email senders can be profound. In this article, we’ll explore what backscatterers are, why they matter, and how to address them effectively to maintain a healthy email-sending reputation.

What Are Backscatterers?

Backscatter refers to the bounce messages or non-delivery reports (NDRs) sent by mail servers in response to emails that appear to come from a forged sender. These emails are often sent by spammers who use a technique called email spoofing, where the sender’s address is falsified. As a result, legitimate domains that have been spoofed might receive a flood of bounce messages for emails they never even sent.

The servers sending these NDRs, known as backscatterers, unintentionally contribute to the problem. While they intend to notify the supposed sender of delivery issues, they inadvertently amplify the spam problem.

Why Are Backscatterers a Problem?

1. Damage to Domain Reputation.
Backscatter can severely harm your domain’s reputation. When you receive a high volume of bounce messages from backscatterers, it signals to spam filters and blacklists that your domain might be associated with spam activity, even if you aren’t responsible.

2. Blacklisting Risks.
Repeated interactions with backscatterers can lead to your domain being listed on blacklists, which makes it harder for your legitimate emails to reach recipients.

3. Operational Disruption.
The influx of backscatter emails can clog your mail server. It will make it challenging to handle legitimate communications effectively.

4. Wasted Resources.
Your server is consumed processing these unwanted messages, it leads to unnecessary operational costs.

How Do Backscatterers Operate?

Backscatter is often generated due to poor server configurations. When a mail server receives a spam email with a forged sender address and determines it’s undeliverable, it sends a bounce message to the spoofed sender. Since the spoofed address doesn’t belong to the spammer but to a third party, the latter ends up being the victim of this backscatter.

Preventing Backscatter

To deal with backscatterers effectively involves a combination of different measures and proactive monitoring. Here’s how you can protect your domain:

1. Implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Specifies which mail servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds a cryptographic signature to authenticate your emails.
• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): Aligns SPF and DKIM and provides policies for handling unauthorized emails.

These protocols ensure that spoofed emails are less likely to be accepted by recipient mail servers, and that can reduce the chances of backscatter.

2. Monitor Blacklists Regularly

Check if your domain is listed on popular blacklists. If you discover your domain has been flagged because of backscatter, take immediate steps to rectify the issue and request removal.

3. Work With a Professional Email Deliverability Service

Specialized services can provide real-time monitoring, advanced configurations, and reports to help prevent backscatter and other email-related issues. Use one of the best tools on the market — GlockApps. GlockApps provides tools to test and monitor your email deliverability. It includes spam testing, inbox placement testing, and DMARC analytics.

What To Do If Your Domain Is Affected by Backscatter

Identify the Source
Examine your email logs to identify where the backscatter is coming from. Look for patterns in the bounce messages to pinpoint compromised systems or misconfigurations.

Strengthen Email Security
Review your DMARC, SPF, and DKIM records and make sure they are properly set up.

Contact Blacklist Administrators
If your domain is blacklisted, reach out to the administrators of the blacklist to explain the situation and provide evidence of the steps you’ve taken to resolve this issue.

Conclusion

Backscatterers represent a hidden but significant threat to email deliverability and domain reputation. When you understand their mechanics and implement email security measures, you can minimize their impact. With the right tools and practices, you can safeguard your domain, preserve your email-sending reputation, and ensure that your communications reach their intended recipients.

For organizations serious about email deliverability, investing time and resources into addressing backscatter is not optional — it’s essential. Stay proactive so you can turn this challenge into an opportunity to strengthen your email ecosystem. Test your email deliverability with GlockApps!

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