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MTA-STS: force TLS for inbound mail

MTA-STS is how you insist that other mail servers speak TLS when they deliver to you — not plaintext when an attacker strips STARTTLS.

US search interest: “mta-sts” ~590/mo (DataForSEO).

What CrowWake checks

TXT at _mta-sts.domain plus https://mta-sts.domain/.well-known/mta-sts.txt. Both present → ok; one missing → warn.

Why it matters

Together with TLS-RPT it closes a real downgrade class for inbound mail. Optional, but increasingly expected for serious brands.

If CrowWake crows

Follow your ESP or mail host’s MTA-STS guide: DNS id record + hosted policy + reporting via TLS-RPT.

Watch this on CrowWake

Add the domain, leave the boxes checked, and the flock will crow when this drifts.

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