How do I decode Comcast FBL email address to unsubscribe users?

Summary

Decoding Comcast FBL email addresses is generally impossible due to their one-way hash encryption. The purpose is to prevent third parties from identifying complainers. Instead, senders should focus on matching FBL data with identifiers (unique user IDs, logged masked addresses) embedded in email headers or system logs. These identifiers allow for user identification and unsubscribing within the sender's system. Implementing List-Unsubscribe headers and checking Comcast's documentation are helpful for reducing complaints and understanding their specific FBL mechanism. Standard FBL documentation and platform documentation like Microsoft SNDS do not decode these addresses but offer insight into FBL structure and sender reputation.

Key findings

  • Decoding Not Possible: Comcast FBL email addresses are one-way hashed and cannot be directly decoded.
  • Identifier Matching is Crucial: Matching FBL data with embedded unique identifiers or logged masked addresses is the key to identifying users.
  • Use Internal Systems: Rely on internal systems and logs to correlate FBL data with user accounts.
  • Comcast's Approach: Comcast's documentation focuses on utilizing the provided FBL data, not on decoding the email address.
  • Privacy Protection: The one-way hash protects complainers' identities from third parties.

Key considerations

  • Implement Identifier Strategy: Develop a strategy for embedding unique identifiers or logging masked addresses.
  • Integrate FBL Data: Integrate FBL data into your internal systems for efficient processing.
  • Ensure Data Correlation: Establish robust mechanisms to correlate FBL data with user accounts.
  • Prioritize Easy Unsubscribe: Implement List-Unsubscribe headers and easy unsubscribe processes to reduce complaints.
  • Comcast Documentation: Consult Comcast's documentation for any specific FBL requirements.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Decoding Comcast FBL email addresses directly is generally not possible. The addresses are intentionally obfuscated to prevent scraping. Instead, email senders should focus on leveraging alternative methods for identifying users who trigger FBLs. These methods involve embedding unique identifiers in email headers or logging the masked address alongside user data in internal systems, allowing for correlation and subsequent unsubscription upon receiving FBL reports. Checking Comcast's documentation for specific guidance is also recommended.

Key opinions

  • Decoding Not Possible: Direct decoding of Comcast FBL email addresses is generally not feasible due to intentional obfuscation.
  • Utilize Unique Identifiers: The most effective method involves embedding and tracking unique identifiers in email headers to link FBL data to specific user accounts.
  • Log Masked Addresses: Logging the masked email address alongside user data in your system allows for easy identification upon receiving FBL reports.
  • Comcast Specific Guidance: Consult Comcast's documentation for any provider-specific guidance on managing their FBL data.

Key considerations

  • System Design: Design your email sending system to incorporate unique identifiers and log masked addresses for efficient FBL processing.
  • Data Correlation: Ensure robust data correlation mechanisms are in place to link FBL data with user accounts in your database.
  • Privacy Compliance: Handle FBL data and user information in accordance with privacy regulations.
  • Fallback Mechanisms: Implement fallback mechanisms for cases where identifiers are missing or correlation fails.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that in general you cannot easily decode such addresses because they are designed to prevent scraping. However, the original sender who set up the obfuscation should have a mapping in their database to decode.

January 2022 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that while you can't reverse the hash, the purpose isn't to block you, the sender, from identifying the user. Your system should correlate the hashed ID with the user's profile in your database to process the unsubscribe.

February 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog shares that feedback loops provide valuable data, but decoding specific addresses is often not possible. You should focus on using the FBL data to identify and remove problematic subscribers from your list based on other identifiers you control.

July 2023 - Email Deliverability Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that ideally, the sending software would add a custom header (unique identifier) to identify the subscriber. Using this identifier, the subscriber can be flagged as a complainer and since Comcast is sending the full header back to the sender, identifying the subscriber is straightforward.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora explains that if you're using a masked email, your system needs to track the mapping between the masked address and the actual user in your database. When a complaint comes in through the FBL, look up the user based on the masked address and unsubscribe them.

September 2022 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost Support explains that while they support FBLs, the decoding of proprietary email address masking is specific to the provider (in this case, Comcast). They suggest checking Comcast's specific FBL documentation or support for details on how they manage identifiers.

October 2021 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange suggests that the address isn't designed to be decoded externally. Focus on the system logs generated when sending the email; these will contain the mapping between the original email and the masked address, allowing for proper identification upon receiving FBL data.

February 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests that you should design your system to log the masked address alongside the user's actual email. This way, when you receive an FBL report, you can use the logged masked address to quickly find the user in your system and unsubscribe them.

January 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that you should focus on the other data provided in the FBL report, such as user IDs or other unique identifiers you included in the original email headers. Correlate that with your database to identify the user.

August 2022 - Email Marketing Forum

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Decoding Comcast FBL email addresses directly is impossible due to their one-way hash encryption. This measure protects complainers' identities from third parties, but senders are expected to identify users via other methods. Focus on matching FBL data with unique identifiers embedded in email headers to unsubscribe users. While List-Unsubscribe headers are important for reducing complaints, they don't help in decoding Comcast's FBL addresses.

Key opinions

  • Decoding Impossible: Comcast FBL email addresses cannot be directly decoded due to one-way hashing.
  • Identifier Matching is Key: Identify users by matching FBL data with unique identifiers you've embedded in your email headers.
  • Privacy Focus: One-way hashing protects complainers' identities from third parties.
  • List-Unsubscribe Indirectly Helps: Implementing easy unsubscribe mechanisms (List-Unsubscribe) reduces complaint rates, addressing the issue indirectly.

Key considerations

  • Implement Unique Identifiers: Ensure your email system embeds unique identifiers in email headers for FBL matching.
  • Monitor Complaint Rates: Track and analyze complaint rates to identify and address deliverability issues.
  • Prioritize Easy Unsubscribe: Make it easy for users to unsubscribe to reduce the likelihood of complaints and FBL triggers.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that direct decoding of Comcast's FBL email addresses is generally not possible. Instead, focus on matching the FBL data with identifiers you've embedded in your email headers. These unique identifiers allow you to identify and unsubscribe the user within your system, bypassing the need to decode the Comcast address.

January 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains the importance of List-Unsubscribe headers but does not address the decoding of Comcast-specific FBL email addresses. The focus is on implementing easy unsubscribe mechanisms to reduce complaint rates, which indirectly addresses the goal of unsubscribing users who trigger FBLs.

October 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains the one way hash is to stop 3rd parties from being able to identify the complainer, it’s not intended to stop the original sender from being able to identify and take required actions against it.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that you cannot decode the Comcast FBL email address as it’s a one way hash.

July 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

The documentation consistently states that decoding Comcast's obfuscated FBL email addresses is not addressed or supported. The focus is on leveraging the data provided within the FBL reports, such as headers and other identifiers, to identify and unsubscribe users via internal subscriber management systems. General FBL documentation outlines report structure but does not provide decoding solutions, while specific platforms like Microsoft SNDS focus on sender reputation and complaint rates.

Key findings

  • No Direct Decoding: None of the documentation provides methods for directly decoding Comcast's masked FBL email addresses.
  • Focus on FBL Data: The emphasis is on utilizing the available data within the FBL reports to identify users.
  • Internal Systems are Key: Senders should rely on their internal subscriber management systems to correlate FBL data with user accounts.
  • General FBL Information Only: General FBL documentation outlines report structure and standards but doesn't address provider-specific obfuscation.

Key considerations

  • Data Integration: Ensure seamless integration of FBL data into your internal subscriber management system.
  • Identifier Mapping: Establish robust mapping mechanisms between identifiers in your emails and user accounts.
  • System Design: Design your system to handle FBL data and unsubscribe users based on available information.
  • Limited External Support: Recognize that external documentation provides limited support for decoding provider-specific obfuscation methods.
Technical article

Documentation from Comcast Postmaster explains that Comcast uses a proprietary feedback loop (FBL) mechanism. While they don't explicitly detail decoding the masked email, they emphasize that senders should use the information provided in the FBL data, including the obfuscated email and other headers, to identify and unsubscribe complaining users based on their internal subscriber management systems.

June 2021 - Comcast Postmaster
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that an email feedback report (FBL) is a mechanism by which a recipient reports that a particular message is unsolicited. While it outlines the structure of such reports, it doesn't address the decoding of sender-specific obfuscated email addresses but rather focuses on the standard format of reporting.

July 2021 - RFC 3848
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains that while SNDS provides data about complaints, it doesn't decode third-party FBL addresses. The focus is on providing senders with data about their own sending reputation and complaint rates from Microsoft users.

January 2025 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Validity (formerly Return Path) details feedback loop setup and processing. While helpful for general FBL understanding, it does not provide information on decoding Comcast-specific masked addresses. They emphasize using the data provided to identify users.

June 2024 - Validity