Date of analysis: 02/02/2024

DMARC Adoption in Chile: 2024 Report

Let’s delve into DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance), an email authentication protocol that boosts your email’s safety. Unlike basic authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM, DMARC goes the extra mile. It not only verifies senders but also provides valuable feedback. 

With DMARC, you can monitor email delivery and instruct servers on how to handle your emails effectively. This added layer of security is crucial in recent times, where threats like phishing and spoofing are rampant.

With the pervasive use of email in both personal and professional realms, ensuring its security is pivotal for protecting confidential data. This includes financial details, personal conversations, and business strategies. Without robust email security measures, individuals and organizations are vulnerable to various cyber threats. 

Beyond the direct impact on individuals and organizations, email security breaches can have far-reaching consequences. This can be in the form of reputational damage, financial losses, and legal liabilities. Furthermore, in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government, compliance regulations mandate stringent measures to protect sensitive data transmitted via email.

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Assessing the Threat Landscape

Amid the rise of email-based threats worldwide, Chile finds itself similarly vulnerable. Across the globe, advancements in technology, particularly with the emergence of AI, have escalated the risk of cybercrime. This phenomenon has reverberated globally, with Chile being no exception to the growing threat landscape.

According to this Cybersecurity Analysis Report by Mordor Intelligence, Chile, with a high internet usage of 92%, saw a huge increase in cyberattacks in 2021, reaching 9.4 billion. Due to its large population and internet usage, there’s a growing need for cybersecurity solutions and services in the country.

As our economy and financial systems rely more on digital technology and are more connected, the danger of cyberattacks keeps increasing. According to a document by the IMF (International Monetary Fund),  the University of Maryland’s CISSM Cyber Attacks Database reports that the number of cyberattacks among OECD countries has shot up a lot in the past decade, especially since 2020. Chile has seen a higher proportion of cyberattacks in its financial sector compared to other countries nearby and in the OECD.

In 2018, the second largest bank in Chile – Banco de Chile, lost $10 Million to a cyber attack. A malware known as MRB Killer infected their systems and servers, leading to the breach. This was a major eye-opener, leading Chilean officials to start making amends in organizational cybersecurity postures.

In our Chile DMARC Adoption Report for 2024, we will address the following major concerns:

  • What is the current situation of DMARC adoption and enforcement in organizations in Chile?

  • How can we improve ‌domain security and email authentication infrastructure in Chile to prevent impersonation attacks?

  • Which industry sectors in Chile are the most vulnerable to email phishing?

  • How does PowerDMARC help organizations mitigate email-based threats?

To gain better insight into the current scenario we analyzed 1004 domains belonging to top businesses and organizations in Chile, from the following sectors:

What Do the Numbers Say?

An in-depth SPF and DMARC adoption analysis was conducted while examining all 1004 Chile domains, which led to the following revelations:

Graphical Analysis: Among all 1004 domains examined that belong to various organizations in Chile, 703 domains (70%) possessed correct SPF records, while 232 domains (23.1%) unfortunately had no SPF records at all. 360 domains (35.9%) had correct DMARC records, while 3 of the domains (0.3%) had DMARC records that contained errors. A vast majority of domains (641 domains making up 63.8%) had no DMARC record found. 192 domains had their DMARC policy set at none (19.1%), enabling monitoring only, while 69 domains (6.9%) had their DMARC policy ‌set at quarantine, and 99 domains (9.9%) had their DMARC policy set at maximum enforcement (i.e. p=reject).

Sector-wise Analysis of Chile Domains

Healthcare Sector

Key Findings:

  • 24.3% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 19.9% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 53.7% of the domains

Energy Sector

Key Findings:

  • 27.4% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 10.8% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 77.4% of the domains

Government Sector

Key Findings:

  • 27.5% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 25.8% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 49.2% of the domains

Banking Sector

Key Findings:

  • 21.4% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 17.3% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 51% of the domains

Education Sector

Key Findings:

  • 23.9% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 29.2% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 58.4% of the domains

Telecom Sector

Key Findings:

  • 18.6% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 17.6% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 69.6% of the domains

Media and Entertainment Sector

Key Findings:

  • 28.2% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 19.7% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 74.6% of the domains

Transport Sector

Key Findings:

  • 15.7% of domains had no SPF record 
  • 18% of the domains had their DMARC policy set at p=none
  • No DMARC record was found for 70.2% of the domains

Comparative Analysis of SPF Adoption among Different Sectors in Chile

The SPF adoption rate was found to be the lowest in Chile’s Energy and Government sectors. The highest rate of SPF adoption was noted in the Chile Transport, Telecom, Banking, and Educational sectors.

Comparative Analysis of DMARC Adoption among Different Sectors in Chile

Chile’s Media and Entertainment, Energy, and Transport sectors noted low rates of DMARC adoption. The highest rate of DMARC adoption was noted in the Chilean Government sector. A large percentage of organizations in all sectors had no DMARC policy implemented.

Critical Errors Organizations in Chile Are Making

After examining 1004 domains spanning various sectors and industries in Chile, we discovered critical mistakes that organizations were making. These errors, if ignored, could potentially expose them to cyberattacks.

How Can Organizations in Chile Improve Email Security?

PowerDMARC Helps You in this Process

Ensuring the security of your emails is paramount for organizations of all sizes. At PowerDMARC, we understand the importance of safeguarding your communications from cyber threats. That’s why we offer a comprehensive suite of email and domain security solutions tailored to meet your organization’s needs.

Let’s join hands to increase the rate of DMARC adoption and strengthen the email security infrastructure in businesses across Chile. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to find out how we can help protect your domain and business today!