How did Yahoo update their FBL ARF format and how did it impact ESPs?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that Yahoo updated their FBL ARF format, potentially impacting ESPs and those processing complaints themselves, noting that the change may be unintentional and that original headers are stripped.
Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailExpert mentions that some smaller ESPs and independent senders struggled more than larger providers because they lacked the resources to quickly adapt to the format changes. This created a temporary competitive disadvantage.
Email marketer from Email Geeks believes some MTAs can parse the new format only if they are using VERP.
Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms that things should be getting back to normal.
Email marketer from Email Geeks mentions that some MTAs (PMTA, Halon) can still process the complaints, while others (GreenArrow) cannot.
Email marketer from StackOverflow user ARF_Parser mentioned that there were increased discussions and questions among developers on Stack Overflow related to ARF parsing difficulties after Yahoo’s update, indicating a widespread challenge in adapting to the new format.
Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that ESPs had to ensure their systems were updated not just for the new format but also for potential rollbacks if Yahoo encountered issues, making the adaptation process more complex.
Email marketer from Email Geeks states they are aware of the differences in Yahoo's FBL ARF reports and are researching the issue.
Email marketer from EmailGeekForum user FBL_Watcher discusses that many ESPs initially saw a drop in reported complaints due to the parsing errors, leading to confusion and concerns about the accuracy of their feedback loops.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that Yahoo's changes required ESPs to update their processing algorithms to correctly interpret the feedback loop data. This adaptation ensures that ESPs can efficiently act on user complaints to maintain high deliverability rates.
Email marketer from Email Geeks announces that Yahoo is rolling back the changes and reports should return to normal later that day, including duplicates from the past two days.
Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection shares that the Yahoo FBL update initially caused parsing issues for some ESPs because of changes in the ARF (Abuse Reporting Format). ESPs needed to adjust their systems to correctly interpret the new format to maintain accurate complaint tracking and avoid misinterpreting user feedback.
Email marketer from SparkPost Blog explains that after the Yahoo FBL update, numerous ESPs reported increased difficulties parsing feedback loop data, leading to delays in processing user complaints. This resulted in a temporary reduction in the efficiency of spam filtering mechanisms, potentially affecting deliverability.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that Yahoo's FBL ARF changes required ESPs to make adjustments to their systems to correctly process the feedback data. The impact was mainly on the technical side, where parsing and interpretation of the reports needed updates.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that due to changes that Yahoo made, some ESPs initially had trouble processing complaint data, which led to difficulties in identifying and managing problem senders. This was a short-term impact as ESPs adapted.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Yahoo Help explains Yahoo Mail has updated its Feedback Loop (FBL) reports to provide more granular data regarding user complaints. The updated format includes enhanced header information, which allows ESPs to more accurately identify the source of spam complaints and improve their filtering mechanisms.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that Feedback Loop (FBL) programs are essential for ESPs to maintain good sender reputations. Yahoo's ARF format changes directly impacted how ESPs process and respond to abuse reports, influencing their ability to filter spam effectively.
Documentation from RFC Editor explains that ARF is a standard format for reporting email abuse. Yahoo's updates would inherently affect the structure and fields within the ARF reports, meaning that systems relying on a rigid interpretation of the older format would experience parsing errors until updated to reflect Yahoo's changes.