Beschrijving
MTX Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7
Beschrijving
MTX Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7 prevents users from submitting contact forms with non-existent or invalid email addresses by performing DNS/MX record validation before form submission.
Features
Validation
* DNS/MX Record Validation – Verifies email domains have valid MX records
* SMTP Mailbox Verification – Advanced validation that checks if the specific email address/mailbox exists
* Abstract API Integration – Comprehensive third-party email validation with quality scoring, risk assessment, and breach detection
* Catch-All Domain Detection – Optionally reject domains that accept any email address (available in DNS+SMTP mode)
* Disposable Email Detection – Block temporary/throwaway email addresses (via Abstract API)
* Role-Based Email Detection – Identify generic addresses like info@, admin@, support@ (via Abstract API)
* Three Validation Modes:
– DNS Only (Fast) – Validates domain can receive emails (~0.5s)
– DNS + SMTP (Thorough) – Validates both domain and specific mailbox (~2-5s)
– Abstract API (Advanced) – Comprehensive validation with quality scoring, risk assessment, and more
* Per-Form Configuration – Configure validation settings for each CF7 form individually
* Custom Error Messages – Set global or per-form error messages
Admin Interface
* Tabbed Interface – Organized Settings and Tools tabs for better UX
* Modern React Admin – Beautiful admin interface built with React 18 and Ant Design 5
* Welcome Pointer – Helpful onboarding tooltip for first-time users
* Import/Export Settings – Backup and migrate settings with JSON export/import
* Cache Management – Clear DNS cache on demand from Tools tab
* UI Preferences – Per-user interface settings (reset welcome pointer)
Performance & Data
* Validation Logging – Track all validation attempts with detailed logs and statistics
* Expandable Log Details – View comprehensive validation data including deliverability, quality scores, risk assessment, domain info, and breach history
* DNS Caching – Improves performance by caching DNS lookups (24-hour default)
* Data Cleanup Control – Choose whether to delete all plugin data on uninstall
* Multiple Click Protection – Prevents duplicate requests from rapid button clicks
Developer Features
* Extensible Hooks – Filters and actions for custom validation logic
* REST API – Full REST API for settings and logs management
* Translation Ready – Fully internationalized and localization-ready
* WordPress Coding Standards – Follows WordPress PHP and JavaScript standards
Benefits
- Reduce email bounce rates
- Protect your domain reputation
- Improve email deliverability
- Prevent spam and fake submissions
- Better data quality for marketing campaigns
Requirements
- WordPress 6.2 or higher
- PHP 8.1 or higher
- Contact Form 7 plugin
Installatie
Automatic Installation
- Go to Plugins Add New in your WordPress admin
- Search for “Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7”
- Click “Install Now”
- Click “Activate”
- Go to Contact Email DNS Validation to configure settings
Manual Installation
- Download the plugin ZIP file
- Go to Plugins Add New Upload Plugin
- Choose the downloaded ZIP file and click “Install Now”
- Click “Activate”
- Go to Contact Email DNS Validation to configure settings
Configuration
- Go to Contact Email DNS Validation
- Choose your validation mode (DNS Only or DNS+SMTP)
- Enable or disable logging
- Customize error messages (optional)
- Configure per-form settings if needed
Important: For the plugin to work properly, ensure your WordPress permalink structure is not set to “Plain”. Go to Settings Permalinks and choose any option other than “Plain” (we recommend “Post name”).
FAQ
Does this work with all Contact Form 7 forms?
Yes, the plugin integrates seamlessly with Contact Form 7’s validation hooks.
What’s the difference between the validation modes?
DNS Mode checks if the domain can receive emails (fast, ~0.5 seconds).
DNS+SMTP Mode also verifies if the specific mailbox exists (thorough, ~2-5 seconds).
Abstract API Mode provides comprehensive validation including deliverability, quality scoring, risk assessment, disposable detection, and breach history.Example:
epu@imtiazepu.com
– DNS mode: Validatesimtiazepu.comhas MX records
– DNS+SMTP mode: Validates both domain AND that mailboxepuexists
– Abstract API mode: All of the above PLUS quality score, risk level, disposable check, breach historyWhat is Abstract API and how do I get an API key?
Abstract API is a third-party email validation service that provides comprehensive email verification including deliverability status, quality scoring, risk assessment, disposable email detection, and data breach history.
To get an API key:
1. Visit Abstract API Email Validation
2. Sign up for a free account
3. Copy your API key from the dashboard
4. Paste it in the plugin settings under “Abstract API Key”The free tier includes a limited number of API calls per month.
Will this slow down my forms?
DNS Mode: Very minimal impact (~0.5 seconds)
DNS+SMTP Mode: Adds 2-5 seconds per submission, but prevents invalid mailboxesDNS lookups are cached for 24 hours by default, so repeated submissions from the same domain are instant.
Can I customize the error messages?
Yes, you can set global error messages or customize them per-form.
Does this validate email format too?
Contact Form 7 already validates email format. This plugin adds DNS/MX record and optional SMTP mailbox validation on top of that.
Why would SMTP validation fail?
Some mail servers block SMTP verification for privacy/security reasons. In these cases, the plugin treats the result as valid to avoid false positives.
What is a catch-all domain and should I reject them?
A catch-all domain accepts ANY email address, even ones that don’t exist. For example, if
domain.comis configured as catch-all, emails torealuser@domain.com,fakename@domain.com, andanything@domain.comwill all be accepted by the mail server.The Problem: You can’t verify if a specific mailbox actually exists on a catch-all domain.
The Solution: The plugin can detect catch-all domains by testing with a random impossible email address. If that also gets accepted, the domain is catch-all.
Should you reject them?
– Enable rejection (default): Better spam protection, ensures only real mailboxes
– Disable rejection: More lenient, accepts all catch-all domainsThis setting is only available when using DNS+SMTP validation mode.
What happens to my data when I uninstall the plugin?
By default, all plugin data (settings, logs, and database tables) is preserved when you uninstall the plugin. This prevents accidental data loss.
If you want to completely remove all plugin data, you can enable “Delete all data on uninstall” in Settings Data Management. When enabled, uninstalling the plugin will delete:
* Plugin settings
* Validation logs database table
* Per-form configurations
* DNS cache
* User preferences (welcome pointer dismissals)Can I backup my settings?
Yes! Go to the Tools tab and use the Import/Export Settings section to export your configuration as a JSON file. You can then import it on another site or keep it as a backup.
How do I reset the welcome pointer?
Go to Settings Tools tab User Interface Preferences, and click “Show Welcome Pointer Again”. It will reappear on your next page load.
Does the plugin support multiple languages?
Yes, the plugin is translation-ready and follows WordPress internationalization standards. You can translate it using WPML, Polylang, or .po/.mo files.
Beoordelingen
Er zijn geen beoordelingen voor deze plugin.
Bijdragers & ontwikkelaars
“MTX Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7” is open source software. De volgende personen hebben bijgedragen aan deze plugin.
Bijdragers
Vertaal “MTX Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7” in je eigen taal.
Interesse in ontwikkeling?
Bekijk de code, haal de SVN repository op, of abonneer je op het ontwikkellog via RSS.
Changelog
1.1.0 – 2026-02-01
New Feature: Abstract API Email Validation
* Added Abstract API as a third validation mode for comprehensive email verification
* Abstract API provides advanced validation including:
– Email deliverability status (deliverable/undeliverable)
– Email quality score (0.0 – 1.0)
– Disposable email detection
– Catch-all domain detection
– Role-based email detection (info@, admin@, etc.)
– Email risk assessment (low/medium/high)
– Domain information and reputation
– Email breach history
* New API key setting for Abstract API configuration
* Detailed validation feedback with status messages
Enhanced Log Viewer
* Added expandable rows in validation logs to view detailed API response data
* Collapsible sections for organized data display:
– Email Deliverability: Status, format validity, SMTP validity, MX records
– Email Quality: Quality score, free email, disposable, catch-all, role-based flags
– Email Risk Assessment: Address risk status, domain risk status
– Domain Information: Domain age, registrar, registration dates, live site status
– Email Breach History: Total breaches, breach dates, affected domains
Database Updates
* Added details column to logs table for storing comprehensive API response data
* Existing logs without details will show “No detailed validation data available”
1.0.2 – 2026-01-03
- Fix: Updated plugin name to “MTX Email DNS Validator for Contact Form 7” for better distinction in WordPress.org directory
- Fix: Updated text domain to
mtx-email-dns-validation-for-cf7for WordPress.org compliance - Note: This is a branding update only – no functionality changes
1.0.1 – 2024-12-10
- Fix: Corrected DSN to DNS throughout plugin (DSN = Delivery Status Notification, DNS = Domain Name System)
- Fix: Updated text domain from
email-dsn-validation-for-cf7toemail-dns-validation-for-cf7for WordPress.org compliance - Fix: All 65 translation function calls now use correct text domain
- Note: This is a naming correction only – no functionality changes
1.0.0 – 2024-12-10
Initial Release
Validation Features
* DNS/MX record validation for email domains
* SMTP mailbox verification to check if specific mailbox exists
* Catch-all domain detection – Optionally reject domains that accept any email address
* Two validation modes: DNS Only (fast) and DNS+SMTP (thorough)
* Per-form configuration with global settings override
* Custom error messages (global and per-form)
* Fail-safe validation (uncertain results treated as valid)
Admin Interface
* Modern React 18 admin interface with Ant Design 5 components
* Tabbed interface separating Settings and Tools
* Settings Tab: Validation settings, logging, performance, data management
* Tools Tab: Cache management, import/export, UI preferences
* Welcome pointer with helpful onboarding for new users
* Per-user pointer dismissal (each admin sees it independently)
* Collapsible validation mode guide in admin UI
* Message notifications positioned correctly above WordPress toolbar
Data Management
* Validation logging system with detailed statistics
* Log viewer with pagination and filtering
* Export logs as CSV or SQL format
* Import/Export plugin settings as JSON
* DNS caching with configurable duration (default 24 hours)
* Clear cache on demand from Tools tab
* User-controlled data cleanup on uninstall
Performance & Security
* Multi-layer button protection against rapid clicks
* Prevents duplicate API requests
* Proper SQL queries using wpdb->prepare() with placeholders
* Nonce verification on all data-modifying operations
* WordPress Coding Standards compliant
* Fixed script loading conflicts with WordPress admin
Developer Features
* Full REST API for settings, forms, and logs management
* Extensible hooks and filters for custom validation logic
* PSR-4 autoloading with Composer
* Translation-ready with full internationalization support
* Comprehensive inline documentation
