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Why You Need this Validator:

Use our Validator to check the format and success of any SPF or Sender ID records you publish. Make sure your records will be accepted by the ISPs before you start sending email campaigns.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and Sender ID are sender authentication tools developed to prevent email address forgery and to identify spam, worms, and viruses. SPF records are now required by AOL for inclusion in their whitelist program. Sender ID records will soon be required by Microsoft for unaltered MSN/Hotmail delivery.

Marketers and domain owners must identify their sending mail servers by publishing these new DNS records. Participating ISPs (receivers like AOL and MSN/Hotmail) verify the sending domains (which domain they verify depends on which standard) for who is permitted to send from the sending mail servers. If the sending mail server doesn't match the list of servers associated with that domain, mail may be rejected.

Basically, this means your email is "authenticated." You confirm that mail with your name on it comes from your registered sending domains and servers. Remember, however, that even validated authentication does not ensure email deliverability. Contact your Return Path account manager for more details.