What ARC (Authenticated Received Chain) is#
ARC preserves authentication results across intermediaries such as mailing lists and forwarders. Each hop signs the results it saw, so the final receiver can trust an earlier pass even if SPF or DKIM broke in transit.
Why it matters#
Forwarding and mailing lists are the largest source of legitimate DMARC failures. ARC lets receivers accept mail that would otherwise be quarantined under p=reject.
What ActiveCampaign handles#
Most platforms, including ActiveCampaign, generate the records or settings you need under a domain authentication or sending settings page, and expose bounce and complaint data in reports. Confirm the exact location in ActiveCampaign's current documentation.
What you still own#
- Check whether your inbound gateway or mailing-list software supports ARC sealing.
- Enable ARC sealing on any system that modifies and re-sends mail.
- Verify ARC-Seal, ARC-Message-Signature, and ARC-Authentication-Results headers appear on forwarded mail.
- Confirm downstream receivers (Gmail, Microsoft) honor your seals by checking Authentication-Results for arc=pass.
Common mistakes#
- Expecting ARC to fix your own outbound authentication; it only helps intermediaries.
- Trusting ARC from unknown sealers, which reopens the spoofing door.
Frequently asked questions#
Do I need ARC as a sender?
No. ARC is implemented by intermediaries and receivers. Senders benefit indirectly when their mail is forwarded.
Which providers honor ARC?
Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo all evaluate ARC when deciding whether to override a DMARC failure.
Does ActiveCampaign set up ARC (Authenticated Received Chain) automatically?
ActiveCampaign provides the values and some checks, but publishing DNS, aligning domains, and monitoring results remain your responsibility.