What does the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record in DNS do?

The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record in DNS is primarily designed to identify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of a specific domain. This mechanism helps prevent email spoofing, where malicious entities might attempt to send emails that appear to originate from a legitimate domain without proper authorization.

When an SPF record is set up, it includes a list of IP addresses or hostnames that are permitted to send email for that domain. When an email is received, the recipient's mail server checks the SPF record to verify the sender’s IP address against this list. If the sender's server is authorized according to the SPF record, the message is more likely to be accepted; if not, it may be flagged as spam or rejected outright. This validation process enhances email security significantly by reducing the risk of phishing attacks and other deceptive practices.

The other options provided do relate to email and DNS in their own ways but do not correctly describe the primary function of SPF records. Options discussing directing email traffic or linking domain names to addresses pertain to different functionalities within DNS and email handling. Adding cryptographic signatures refers to DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), which is another method used to enhance email authentication but is distinct from SPF's purpose.