Case Study
Their name is their reputation. Quality, truthful, accurate and reliable reporting.
Trust is a powerful weapon for retaining audiences and advertisers. In the online world, it's critical for media organizations to protect their name from fraudulent use.
Independent online investigative and long-form news outlet based in South Africa
Reputation is everything
Media companies earn their reputation. Since its launch in 2009 Daily Maverick has become a trusted and credible news source through the quality, truthfulness, accuracy and reliability of its reporting. As an online news outlet for quality long-form journalism and newsletters, Daily Maverick, like all digital businesses, is a potential target for cybercriminals. The illegitimate use of the Daily Maverick name by fraudsters could cause devastating reputational and financial damage to the company.
Trusted reporting
Daily Maverick readers need to know they can trust information that carries the Daily Maverick name. Anyone seeking information from the company’s website or receiving email from Daily Maverick in the form of newsletters, newsfeeds or requests for subscriptions, needs to be able to fully trust that the information they’re receiving is the real thing. Daily Maverick’s reputation would be severely undermined if a scam website with the Daily Maverick name, branding and styling but peddling false or misleading information was live. Equally, if a cybercriminal impersonates a Daily Maverick journalist and uses their name to spread misinformation, untruthful and inaccurate reports, or to ask for donations or a subscription, then there would be serious reputational and financial damage inflicted. Without trust Daily Maverick cannot sustain their reputation and credibility or drive subscriptions, advertising revenues or audience and readership numbers. All of which are critical to their sustainability.
Sendmarc: Protecting Daily Maverick and its readers from email fraudsters
Daily Maverick called on Sendmarc to make the Daily Maverick identity immune to cybercriminals wanting to hijack the name and impersonate the company. It’s imperative that only legitimate communication bearing the Daily Maverick name reaches the inboxes of subscribers, donors and readers. Sendmarc set about ensuring the Daily Maverick name, its use in email communications and its website are fully protected and unable to be used by fraudsters for their illicit gain. Their name is their reputation and is key to attracting advertisers and increasing their audience. With cyberattacks threatening trust, Daily Maverick wanted to ensure they had the strongest possible against fraudsters and ensure their reputation for quality, accurate, truthful reporting could not be compromised.
Daily Maverick requirements
- Only legitimate emailsEnsure only legitimate emails with the Daily Maverick name ever reach an inbox.
- Highest security protocolsEnable the highest security protocols to safeguard the brand against email fraud and protect its reputation.
- Protect trustSafeguard the earned trust in Daily Maverick as a reputable, independent and accurate source of news and analysis.
- Safeguarding revenueProtect subscribers and donors from email fraudsters masquerading as Daily Maverick, safeguarding Daily Maverick revenue streams.
- Ensure email integrityEnsure trust in Daily Maverick is maintained by stopping any possible interception and altering of emails.
- Block fake emailsBlock all fake emails impersonating Daily Maverick from reaching inboxes.
- Reputation protectionProtect the reputation of Daily Maverick as a credible news source, stopping all email fraudsters attempting to hijack the Daily Maverick name for illicit gain.
- Legitimate communicationEnsure supporters of Daily Maverick receive the legitimate communication they've subscribed to.
- POPIA complianceEnsure compliance with POPIA requirements to take every measure to safeguard information.
Technical solution
DMARC: Domain-based Messaging Authentication, Reporting and Conformance
Results achieved with Sendmarc solutions
- All illegitimate emails identified and blocked
- Reputation of Daily Maverick as credible a news source protected
- Full visibility and insight into the use of Daily Maverick domain
- In one month, over 10 000 illegitimate emails identified and blocked from reaching any inbox
- Daily Maverick identity can only be used by legitimate, authorized users
- Subscribers and donors protected from fraudsters posing as Daily Maverick
- Ensuring communication from Daily Maverick can be trusted
