Do I really need an MX record? (for e-mail to work)

[Kurt Boyack]

On 23 Dec 2005 14:32:44 -0800, sm5w2 at hotmail.com <sm5w2 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I am saying that based on my un-intended experiment of changing my SMTP
> server's IP and by not configuring an MX record for my domain (both as
> part of a switch to a new ISP), I have discovered that (a) our spam has
> dropped by 75-80 % and (b) we seem to be getting the normal flow of
> legit e-mail.

You made two changes. One was forgetting to add an MX record, and the
other was changing the IP address of your mailhost. You are assuming
that getting rid of the MX record is the reason you are getting less
spam, but you also think that most spam comes from zombies and that
zombies do not use MX records.

Weather you have an MX record or not, the spammers will eventually
figure out which IP can be used for getting email to your domain, and
the spam will start flowing again. Several people on this list have
recommended having MX records, and I think that is the best practice.
Without MX records, there could be people that cannot send email to
you. If that is acceptable by the people you work for, then you have
no reason for having MX records.