---
title: WebSocket and email-policy checks
description: A WebSocket endpoint can fail its handshake while the HTTP check in front of it stays green, and a broken SPF record only shows up when your mail lands in…
canonical: https://watchfor.io/changelog/2026-05-12-websocket-email-policy
---

[All updates](/changelog/page/9#2026-05-12-websocket-email-policy) ✨ New May 12, 2026 · v 1.8.4

# WebSocket and email-policy checks

A WebSocket endpoint can fail its handshake while the HTTP check in front of it stays green, and a broken SPF record only shows up when your mail lands in spam. WebSocket monitors now check the handshake and keep the connection alive with pings, and Email Policy checks watch your SPF, DMARC and DKIM records for you.

Handshake, ping time and the reply to a test message.

SPF and DMARC records, read and explained.

## WebSocket

Opens a ws:// or wss:// connection and times the upgrade handshake. With Check Ping/Pong on it also measures the round trip of a WebSocket ping. Response Must Match can send a message after connecting and requires a reply that matches a pattern, such as a subscribe acknowledgement.

Optional alerts cover a slow handshake, a high ping time and a slow check overall. Probe Status fires when the upgrade fails.

## Email policy

Reads the DNS records that protect your domain from spoofing:

- SPF : which servers may send for you, with a count of DNS lookups (receivers give up after 10).

- DMARC : the policy ( none , quarantine or reject ), its percentage, and whether aggregate and forensic reports are requested.

- DKIM : one record per selector you list, such as google or selector1 .

SPF Record Missing and DMARC Record Missing are on and critical. SPF Too Many DNS Lookups , Weak DMARC Policy and DKIM Record Missing are optional.

## Example

Marketing adds a new email tool, and its SPF include pushes your record to 11 lookups. Mail starts failing SPF at some receivers. With SPF Too Many DNS Lookups on, you get an incident the same day instead of a slow drop in open rates.

Docs: [WebSocket](/docs/monitors/performance#websocket) and [Email policy](/docs/monitors/email#email-policy-spf--dmarc--dkim). Today there is also a free [email policy checker](/email-policy-checker).

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Canonical page: https://watchfor.io/changelog/2026-05-12-websocket-email-policy · Site guide: https://watchfor.io/llms.txt