Understanding the default (catch-all) email address

The default address - sometimes called the catch-all - decides what happens to mail sent to an address at your domain that does not exist. Without a setting, such messages might all be collected, creating a lot of spam; with the right setting, they can be rejected cleanly.

To manage it in the DirhamHost panel, open Default Address, select your domain, and choose one of:

• Discard with an error to the sender (recommended) - mistyped or non-existent addresses bounce back, so senders know to correct the address, and you avoid spam.
• Forward to a mailbox - everything unmatched goes to one inbox. Useful if you regularly receive mail at varied addresses, but it attracts spam.

For most businesses we recommend discard/reject together with clearly defined mailboxes, forwarders and aliases for the addresses you actually use. This keeps your inboxes clean while ensuring genuine addresses always work.

If you switch the default to forward and find spam increasing, change it back to discard. Remember the default address only affects unmatched mail - your real mailboxes and forwarders always take priority. Unsure which option suits your setup? Our team can advise based on how you use email - contact support@dirhamaday.ae.