Rewrite From Header - Explained

Recently it was decided to implement a new feature on all our shared servers called Rewrite From: header to match actual sender.

It was done to improve the validation of email senders on our servers - thus, we will be able to deal with spamming activity more efficiently in this way.

It rewrites the From header in emails to identify the actual sender of the messages sent from our servers. Email recipients will be able to see the original sender in X-From-Rewrite header, as well as in the rewritten From one.

Here is how the response described above may look:

     From: realsender@example.com
     X-From-Rewrite: rewritten was: [sender@mail.example.com], actual sender is not the same system user

There are three options available along with this feature. The following table describes all of them.
 

Option name
Description
Examples
   all The From header is rewritten in all outgoing email messages If a local user sends mails to a remote host, the From header will be rewritten to match the actual sender. If a local user sends mails to another local user, the From header will be rewritten to match the actual sender.
 remote The From header is rewritten in outgoing email messages via SMTP If a local user sends mails to a remote host, the From header will be rewritten to match the actual sender. If a local user sends mails to another local user, the From header will not be rewritten.
  disable This option will not rewrite the From header in any email. -

We have the option set to remote on our shared servers.


NOTE 1: this option does not affect mail received from a remote host. The From header is only rewritten for mail that is sent from the local machine because it is not possible to determine or validate the actual mail sender from remote machines.

NOTE 2: if you have an email forwarder set for your local email address (to a remote host) in cPanel, the From header of a forwarded email will not be rewritten.

NOTE 3: if there is a contact form on your website that sends emails using "E-mail address:" (see the picture below) as From, you need to configure the local mailbox to be the recipient in order to avoid From field being rewritten. If required, forwarder to a remote mail address can be set up.




That's it!

              
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