What Is Email Spoofing and How to Avoid It

This article explains how email spoofing works and and suggests actual things you may do to protect yourself, helping keep both personal and professional communications secure.

• What is Email Spoofing
• What Are the Different Types of Email Spoofing Attacks
• How to Prevent Email Spoofing
• Summary

What is Email Spoofing

Email spoofing is when the email header's "From" line is modified to something other than the actual original sender. A common symptom of someone spoofing your email address is getting tons of spam return messages (like Failure Notification or Mailer Daemon) for emails you never sent or receiving spam emails from yourself that you did not send. Generally, you will never see spoofed emails. But if the person spoofing the email uses a real, active address in the “From” field, any bounce-back messages will end up coming straight to your inbox.

Email spoofers are typically traced through the server they used to send the message. Once that server is identified, it can be reported to ISPs and added to real-time blacklists (RBLs). After that, messages from that server get blocked, which usually puts an end to the spoofed emails.

What Are the Different Types of Email Spoofing Attacks

Email spoofing can occur in various forms, each designed to deceive recipients for different malicious purposes. Here are some common examples:

1. CEO Fraud/Whaling - Attackers impersonate high-level executives or decision-makers within an organization, sending emails to employees with requests for sensitive information, wire transfers, or access to confidential systems.
2. Phishing - This broad category involves spoofed emails pretending to be from reputable sources, such as banks or service providers, aiming to trick recipients into revealing personal information, login credentials, or financial details. Explore Bluehost's comprehensive guide on 'How To Protect Yourself From Phishing' to gain the information and tools needed to recognize and counter these tricky tactics.
3. Business Email Compromise (BEC) - Similar to CEO fraud, BEC attacks target employees responsible for financial transactions, urging them to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the attacker under the guise of a legitimate business request.
4. Brand Impersonation - Spoofed emails mimic well-known brands' communication styles and logos to distribute malware through attachments or links or to collect personal data under false pretenses.
5. Tech Support Scams - These emails claim to be from tech support agents of well-known technology companies, alleging issues with the recipient’s computer or account that can only be resolved by following the attacker’s instructions, often leading to malware installation or data theft.

How to Prevent Email Spoofing

By setting up an SPF record, servers will verify the user has permission to send mail from that domain using the domain's DNS.

Summary

Bluehost offers comprehensive email solutions, including Professional Email and Google Workspace, equipped with advanced spam filters and email authentication protocols. These solutions provide robust protection against threats like viruses, spam, and phishing attacks, ensuring your data and communications remain secure.