That urgent email from your boss asking you to buy gift cards? Probably spoofed. Email spoofing tricks users by disguising the true sender to deliver scams, malware, and phishing attempts. But with the right precautions, you can outwit even crafty inbox assailants. This comprehensive guide breaks down common spoofing tactics and equips you with layered strategies to lock down your inbox. Arm yourself with knowledge and take control of your email security. Enable two-factor authentication, scrutinize senders, train staff on phishing – and take back your inbox from scammers.
Understanding Email Spoofing
We’ve all gotten them – those shady emails that just don’t seem quite right. Maybe the sender name is a bit off, the links look sketchy, or the tone seems unusually urgent. Chances are, you’re looking at a spoofed email.
Email spoofing is when a message’s sender details are altered to disguise where that email actually came from. Instead of seeing the real sender, you see falsified information designed to trick you.
Spoofing is a common tactic used by spammers, scammers, and hackers to bypass filters and gain your trust. Once they have you fooled, it becomes easier to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, or compromise accounts.
While spoofing may sound quite technical, it’s surprisingly simple for bad actors to pull off. Let’s break down exactly how email spoofing works and the common types you may encounter.
Common Forms of Email Spoofing
Phishing
The most dangerous form of spoofing. Phishing emails impersonate trusted brands or contacts to encourage you to click malicious links or share login credentials and sensitive information. They may replicate logos and language from real companies convincingly.
Spam
Spoofed sales or marketing emails disguised as legitimate offers. The sender details are forged to bypass filters, and content drives you to sketchy sites selling questionable products/services. Delete these imposters.
Blackmail
Criminals spoof your own email or contacts to deliver extortion threats and ransom demands. Any compromising info is likely fabricated, but these emails exploit fear and urgency.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Cybercriminals study a company’s hierarchy and spoof executives to email staff authorizing fraudulent wire transfers. This causes major financial losses if emails aren’t scrutinized.
Malware Distribution
Spoofed emails containing infected document attachments or links to download malware. Opening these files compromises your system security.
How Attackers Fake Sender Details
Spoofing works by altering an email’s header – the technical routing information that relays where a message came from. Hackers manipulate two key components:
Sender Address
The “from” field is changed to show an invented address instead of the real sender. For phishing, it’s made to mimic a legitimate company domain.
Display Name
This field customizes what recipient sees as the sender name. Spoofers alter it to impersonate brands/executives/contacts.
With these two fields modified, recipients are tricked into believing spoofed emails originated from someone they know and trust.
Dangers and Risks of Spoofed Emails
While spoofing seems like a nuisance, it enables serious cyber threats:
- Malware infections – Emails with infected attachments or links to malicious sites deliver malware payloads to compromise systems.
- Data breaches – Phishing emails trick users into inputting login credentials, exposing accounts and sensitive data.
- Financial fraud – Spoofed wire transfer requests impersonate executives and lead to major BEC scams.
- Ransomware – Malicious attachments in spoofed emails unleash ransomware to encrypt files for ransom.
- Brand reputation damage – Spoofed spam circulating under a company’s brand can harm legitimacy and trust.
As you can see, the risks posed by email spoofing run deep for both individuals and organizations. But with some vigilance and email security best practices, you can spot spoofed messages and mitigate the threat.
Up next, we’ll explore ways to detect common indicators of email spoofing. Keep reading to learn how to identify these deceptive emails targeting your inbox. With the right knowledge, you can keep your data and systems safe.
Detecting Spoofed Emails
Now that you know how email spoofing works and the risks it poses, it’s time to empower yourself to spot these deceptive messages targeting your inbox.
The first line of defense is awareness – know the common signs of a spoofed email, and your chances of identification go up. Let’s explore key indicators to be on the lookout for.
Sender Address
The sender address (or “from” field) is a top signal. Does it look legitimate and match previous emails, or is it trying to mimic a real domain?
- Fake addresses often contain typos or use domain extensions like “@email.com”.
- However, sophisticated phishing may accurately spoof a brand’s actual domain.
- If the address seems odd or doesn’t match previous communication, it could be spoofed.
Display Name
The display name should also raise flags if suspicious:
- Does the name match who would realistically be emailing you?
- Names can be forged to impersonate companies/contacts. Verify against previous emails.
- Generic names like “Support” or “Billing” are common in phishing.
Spelling and Grammar
Look for obvious mistakes throughout the email:
- Spoofed emails tend to contain spelling and grammar errors.
- But again, well-crafted phishing attempts may not have blatant mistakes.
- Absence of errors alone doesn’t guarantee legitimacy.
Links and Attachments
Analyze any links or attachments with caution:
- Hover over links to preview destinations in the status bar. Are they odd or unrelated sites?
- Attachments from unknown senders are risky – they may contain malware.
- Even if the sender is known, attachments should be treated with suspicion.
Requests for Information
Pay attention if the email asks you to provide sensitive information:
- Legitimate companies won’t unexpectedly request private data via email.
- Phishing attempts often impersonate account notifications requesting login details or personal info.
- Alarm bells should ring for unsolicited requests for sensitive data.
Threats and Urgency
Watch for threatening language demanding immediate action:
- Phishing emails often create fake emergencies, trying to scare recipients into hasty clicks.
- Any financial threats associated with a looming deadline warrant caution.
- Slow down and check the sender’s legitimacy before reacting.
Advanced Ways to Detect Spoofing
Employing some technical defenses can also validate an email’s authenticity:
Email Authentication Protocols
Protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verify senders and help detect spoofing.
Header Analysis
Inspecting raw email headers reveals signs of tampering like mismatches between sender fields.
Link Scanning Tools
Plug-ins can scan links in real-time and warn if they lead to blacklisted sites.
Attachment Scanning
Anti-virus tools scan attachments and warn if malicious files are present.
With vigilance and skepticism, these spoofing red flags become easier to spot. But not every spoofed email will be obvious – spear phishing campaigns can be highly convincing.
That’s why technical protocols, security awareness education, and advanced threat detection solutions are key to reinforce human observation.
Now let’s explore what actions you should take when a suspicious spoofed email hits your inbox to contain the threat.
What to Do If You Get a Spoofed Email
So you’ve detected a suspicious email in your inbox and confirmed it’s likely spoofed. Don’t panic – with the right response, you can contain the threat and prevent harm.
Let’s explore proven steps to take when confronted with a spoofed email to protect yourself and your organization.
1. Do Not Reply, Click Links, or Open Attachments
This is the golden rule when facing potential phishing attempts:
- Replying tips off the attacker that your email is active, encouraging further malicious emails.
- Clicking links or downloading attachments risks infecting your device with malware.
- Even if the email seems to be from a legitimate contact, resist the urge to interact until verifying its authenticity through other channels.
2. Report Phishing Attempts to Your Email Provider
Once you’ve identified a spoofed phishing attempt:
- Forward the email to your provider’s abuse or phishing report address (e.g. [email protected] for Gmail).
- This helps your provider strengthen spam filters and block future attack waves.
- Consider reporting to the impersonated organization’s security team as well.
3. Alert Contacts of Potential Spoofing
If the spoof mimics an executive or vendor’s email:
- Directly contact the impersonated sender to confirm they did not send the message.
- Reply-all to safe company aliases warning colleagues of the spoofing attempt.
This reduces the chances of the phish impacting others in your organization.
4. Watch for Bounce-Backs Filling Your Inbox
Once cybercriminals start spoofing your email address:
- Recipients will receive spam emails appearing to come from you.
- Their servers reject the fakes, and bounce-back messages flood your real inbox.
- Not much you can do but wait out this nuisance until spoofing operations subside.
Damage Control for Spoofed Business Emails
For severe BEC attacks compromising company resources, act swiftly:
Inform IT/Security Teams
- Loop in IT staff to analyze traffic and trace the attack origin.
- Initiate breach protocols like password resets to contain the incident.
Notify Colleagues of Possible Threats
- Send a company-wide alert warning others to scrutinize communication carefully.
- Ensure all employees are aware spoofing is occurring.
Change Passwords as a Precaution
- Reset your passwords proactively even if accounts seem unaffected.
- Treat corporate devices as potentially compromised until sweeped.
Preventing Further Spoofing Incidents
Once attacked, tighten email security to deter future spoofing:
Avoid Publicly Posting Work Email Addresses
- Remove published company email lists that expose work accounts.
- Spoofers harvest emails from websites, signatures, and LinkedIn.
Create an SPF Record
- SPF records verify your authorized sending IP addresses.
- This makes spoofing your domain harder for attackers.
Use Email Encryption Tools
- Encrypted email services add authentication steps, detecting spoofing.
- Consider solutions like Mutant Mail that offer enhanced security.
Educate Employees on Phishing Identification
- Train staff to recognize spoofing red flags covered in this guide.
- Keep security top of mind through ongoing education.
With vigilance and proactive measures, organizations can deter spoofing threats. But individual users also need to protect their personal inboxes as targets.
Next we’ll explore how individuals can defend against spoofed emails at a consumer level.
Protecting Your Inbox from Spoofs
For individual users, your personal inbox is vulnerable to phishing attacks using spoofed emails. Though not always preventable, there are proactive steps you can take to reduce spoofing risks:
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Adding an extra login step ups security, even if your password gets phished:
- Require authentication codes from a separate device to access email.
- SMS codes sent to a mobile device or hardware keys like Yubikey offer two-factor options.
- The extra login hurdle significantly reduces breach risks.
Check Spam Settings and Filters
Configure your email provider’s built-in security controls:
- Adjust spam folder thresholds to quarantine more suspicious mail.
- Create blacklists to automatically block specified senders.
- Enable safety features like Google’s Safe Browsing alerts.
Use Security and Privacy Focused Email Providers
Choose an email provider committed to security:
- Providers like FastMail and StartMail build in encryption and added authentication.
- Privacy-first providers also implement stringent anti-spam and phishing filters.
- Consider using a separate professional and personal email account.
Technical Defenses Against Spoofing
Individual users can also leverage the following technical measures:
Implement DMARC Authentication
- DMARC verifies senders against their published SPF and DKIM records.
- Enforcing DMARC policies on your email domain blocks spoofed messages.
Deploy AI for Advanced Threat Detection
- AI-powered filters learn and evolve to catch new phishing tactics.
- Google’s Machine Learning tech and Microsoft’s Exchange Online Protection employ AI.
Maintain Updated Blacklists
- Shared industry blacklists like Spamhaus block known spammer infrastructures.
- Subscribe to real-time blacklists that crowdsource new threats.
Leverage Email Forwarding Services
- Services like SimpleLogin create proxy addresses, protecting your real email.
- Forwards arrive from a substitute domain, separating your identity.
With vigilance and the right tools, individuals can thwart most spoofing attempts targeting their inboxes. But staying spoof-free also requires proactively preventing your email from being impersonated.
Let’s explore email best practices to reduce your chances of being spoofed.
Preventing Your Email from Being Spoofed
Beyond protecting your inbox, it’s crucial to prevent attackers from spoofing your email in the first place. Adopting prudence with your email address and technical safeguards makes your domain harder to impersonate.
Limit Email Address Exposure
Be selective about where you post your email address publicly:
- Avoid including emails in website or forum profiles that get indexed and exposed.
- Be wary of opting into third party mailing lists that may sell data.
- Keep your professional work email more private if used externally.
Create SPF and DKIM Records
Implement email authentication protocols on your domain:
- SPF records identify authorized sending servers to detect spoofing.
- DKIM digitally signs messages to validate legitimacy.
- DMARC aligns both protocols, blocking failed verification attempts.
Use Tools Like Mutant Mail
Specialized secure email services add extra protection:
- Mutant Mail routes messages through an encrypted channel.
- Two-factor authentication prevents account compromise even if credentials are phished.
- DMARC aggregate reports identify any spoofing attempts detected.
Avoid Third-Party Mailing Lists
Be cautious what lists you sign up for:
- Many marketing lists resell data, exposing your address.
- Subscribe only to reputable services with clear privacy policies.
- Avoid “freebie” lists with questionable handling of your data.
Proactive Anti-Spoofing Measures
Organizations should also implement:
Dedicated Security Awareness Training
- Educate personnel on phishing identification best practices.
- Foster a culture of vigilance through ongoing simulated phishing tests.
Advanced Email Security Protocols
- Require multi-factor authentication for email access.
- Deploy DMARC authentication and reporting across all domains.
Maintained Patched Services
- Keep mail servers updated and properly configured.
- Fix vulnerabilities in external facing services that could enable attacks.
Leverage Tools Like Mystrika
- Services like Mystrika optimize email deliverability.
- This facilitates identification of spoofed messages, improving inboxing rates.
With training, protocols, and the right tools, organizations can deny attackers the means to spoof employee emails.
Now let’s look at rebuilding and recovering in the aftermath of a spoofing breach or phishing incident.
Recovering from a Spoofed Email Attack
Despite your best efforts, a successful spoofing attack may slip through defenses and impact your organization. How you respond in the aftermath is crucial to limit damages and prevent repeat incidents.
Let’s explore steps to recover and rebuild your security posture following an email spoofing breach.
Scan Systems for Malware Infections
If users clicked links or attachments in phishing emails:
- Run anti-virus scans across all devices to uncover potential malware.
- Check for signs of data exfiltration following a successful phishing campaign.
- Consider wiping and reimaging compromised systems to eliminate threats.
Reset Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If credentials were potentially phished:
- Immediately reset passwords for all users and admin accounts.
- Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for enhanced security.
- Prioritize accounts with financial system or data access.
Notify Contacts of Spoofing Risk
If emails were sent externally from your domain:
- Warn partners/customers to disregard suspicious messages appearing to come from your company.
- Make them aware your email has been spoofed.
Monitor Inboxes for Further Suspicious Emails
- Review incoming messages vigilantly for signs of ongoing phishing.
- Attackers often follow up initial hits with secondary scams.
- Report any new deceptive emails to your security team.
Learning from Spoofing Incidents
Review the incident response to identify areas for security improvement:
Identify Vulnerabilities That Allowed Spoofing
- Review email headers, servers, and configurations to uncover weaknesses enabling the attack.
Update and Review Email Security Controls
- Enforce DMARC policies, implement new filters, expand training to address gaps.
Educate Employees on Updated Threat Protocols
- Keep personnel informed of new spoofing tactics observed and how to identify them.
Consider More Advanced Defenses
- Solutions like DoYouMail incorporate security frameworks purpose-built to mitigate spoofing.
By learning from attacks and strengthening defenses, your organization can emerge more resilient to email spoofing threats.
Now let’s look at specific measures for popular email platforms like Outlook and Gmail.
Outlook Email Spoofing Prevention
Microsoft Outlook users can leverage built-in protections to detect and disable email spoofing:
Adjust Junk Mail Settings
Strengthen the aggressiveness of Outlook’s spam filters:
- Enable advanced junk email filtering under Options > Junk Email.
- Adjust the level higher to quarantine more questionable emails.
- Safelist any wrongfully flagged valid senders.
Create Allow/Block Lists
Manually control sender filtering:
- Make use of Outlook’s Allow/Block lists under Junk Email Options.
- Pre-emptively block high risk domains.
- Allowlist trusted partners for bypassing filters.
Use Safe Links and Safe Attachments
These Defender protections scan links and attachments:
- Safe Links detonates links to check for malicious destinations.
- Safe Attachments isolates and inspects attachments before allowing open.
- Enable under Advanced Threat Protection settings.
Leverage Exchange Online Protection
Microsoft’s cloud-based filtering service:
- Builds an advanced anti-spoofing fortress shielding Office 365 users.
- Machine learning and heuristics deliver top-tier threat detection rates.
- Configure filtering policies and customize EOP to your needs.
Gmail Anti-Spoofing Measures
Gmail also provides built-in capabilities to detect and stop spoofed messages:
Report Phishing Messages
Use Gmail’s report phishing feature:
- Forward deceptive messages to [email protected].
- Improves Gmail phishing protections powered by machine learning.
Check Sender Details Carefully
Scrutinize the sender address for accuracy:
- Hover over rather than clicking sender names to preview address details.
- Use search to check if any past emails show different senders from same name.
Avoid Clicking Links in Emails
Even if sender appears legitimate, avoid clicking:
- Copy and paste links to assess destination before clicking.
- Open in new incognito windows rather than directly.
Use Chrome Extensions to Detect Threats
Extensions like Email Checker analyze emails:
- Scans sender reputation, link safety, attachments, and other identifiers.
- Provides warnings on phishing indicators directly within Gmail.
- Customizable rules and whitelists filter messages.
The right settings and practices empower Outlook and Gmail users to combat sophisticated spoofing attempts.
Spoofing Prevention on Mobile Devices
Email spoofing threats extend to mobile devices as well. The smaller screen makes it harder to scrutinize messages, putting smartphone and tablet users at increased risk.
Safeguard your mobile email with the following practices:
Only Download Apps from Official Stores
Stick to reliable sources like Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Avoid sideloading email apps from third-party stores or sites.
- Malicious spoofed apps may slip into unofficial stores more easily.
Avoid Opening Links from Unknown Senders
Exercise caution with links on mobile devices:
- The small screen makes assessing link safety harder.
- Open unfamiliar links in browser rather than directly in email apps.
- Leverage link preview plug-ins that scan URLs on-the-go.
Use Built-in Filtering Tools
Take advantage of native email app protections:
- Enable spam and phishing filters offered in iOS Mail, Gmail, Outlook, etc.
- Configure blacklists or safelists to customize filtering.
- Report phishing emails on mobile to strengthen defenses.
Install Anti-Malware Mobile Apps
Additional mobile protection against phishing:
- Apps like Lookout and Avast Mobile Security flag dangerous links.
- Enable web protection to scan accessed pages for threats.
- Configure device automation rules to disable downloads from emails.
Safe Mobile Email Habits
Practice these mobile email precautions:
Don’t Auto-Download Attachments
Prevent attachments from downloading automatically:
- Disable auto-download of images and attachments in email settings.
- Manually download only after verifying legitimacy.
Check App Permissions Carefully
Ensure email apps only have necessary access:
- Revoke contacts, microphone, location access unless critical.
- Limit apps to only necessary email account access.
Keep Devices and Apps Updated
Maintain latest security patches:
- Apply system updates promptly to email apps and OS.
- Update email apps frequently via app stores.
Use VPNs on Public Wi-Fi
Encrypt connections on open networks:
- Public Wi-Fi lacks encryption, exposing traffic to snooping.
- Reliable VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or ProtonVPN secure communications.
Smart habits and the right tools provide mobile email spoofing protection without sacrificing convenience.
Now let’s explore steps to make your staff an asset in spoofing detection.
Educating Employees to Spot and Report Spoofing
Your team is your first line of defense against phishing. Empowered with the right knowledge, staff can become assets in identifying and reporting email spoofing attempts.
Let’s explore tips to implement effective security awareness training.
Create a Security Awareness Training Program
Dedicate resources to formalize education:
- Appoint knowledgeable security personnel to develop training content.
- Ensure training covers latest spoofing patterns and red flags.
- Update material frequently as threats evolve.
Simulated Phishing Campaigns
Experiential learning reinforces concepts:
- Run mock phishing simulations to put skills into practice.
- Send teaching examples of spoofed emails.
- Provide immediate feedback to staff on detection performance.
Highlight Spoofing Red Flags
Ensure staff knows what to look for:
- Cover common indicators like odd addresses, strange links, spelling errors.
- Include phishing email examples to spot the signs.
- Provide pocket guides listing key characteristics.
Maintain Open Reporting Channels
Make reporting phishing attempts easy:
- Set up dedicated email addresses to forward suspicious messages.
- Integrate plug-ins into email clients to report with one click.
- Create streamlined ticketing channels to log incidents.
Effective Anti-Phishing Training Tips
Follow these best practices for impactful awareness training:
Update Staff on Latest Threats
Education should be threat-led:
- Tailor training to address latest spoofing tactics observed targeting your industry.
Include Quizzes to Test Comprehension
Gauge learning retention:
- Follow up modules with short multiple choice quizzes.
- Repeat training periodically to refresh knowledge.
Make Reporting Easy with Email Plug-ins
Integrate security into daily workflows:
- Browser plug-ins like PhishAlert simplify reporting with one click.
Periodic Refresh Trainings
Ongoing education is key:
- Require short monthly refresher trainings to stay atop of new methods.
- Vary modules to cover different aspects of phishing identification.
An educated workforce is a strong defense against even sophisticated spoofing attacks targeting your organization.
Spoof-Proof Email Best Practices
Let’s summarize the key lessons into spoof-proof email practices you can implement right away:
Limit Email Address Exposure
Keep your business email addresses private:
- Avoid publishing emails in website profiles or mailing lists.
- Use contact forms instead of revealing emails publicly.
- Segment accounts for external vs internal communications.
Use Email Authentication Protocols
Implement multifactor authentication and verification standards:
- Enable SPF, DKIM, and DMARC across all domains.
- Require strong secondary factors like OTP tokens or biometrics for access.
- Integrate tools like Mutant Mail for enhanced authentication.
Encrypt Sensitive Communications
Keep critical messages safe, even if accounts are compromised:
- Encrypt transactional messages with banking details, agreements, etc.
- For privacy compliance, encrypt emails containing personal data.
- Prevent confidential data loss if emails are intercepted.
Leverage Deliverability Tools
Optimize inboxing rates to identify spoofing:
- Services like Mystrika reduce false positives going to spam folders.
- Improve deliverability of valid emails to make spoofing more apparent.
Maintain Strong Technical Controls
Prevent exploits enabling attacks:
- Patch and update internet-facing servers to close vulnerabilities.
- Use AI-enhanced threat detection systems.
- Subscribe to real-time blacklists to block emerging threats.
Educate Staff on Threat Vigilance
A human firewall stops even sophisticated phishing:
- Perform security awareness training, phishing simulations, and quizzes.
- Make reporting phishing easy via email reporting buttons and streamlined ticketing.
- Frequently update staff on emerging email threat patterns.
Extra Protection – DoYouMail
For added spoofing protection, services like DoYouMail incorporate:
- Multi-layer authentication mechanisms including biometrics.
- Patented ID-spoof detection algorithms.
- Automatic blocking of unverified senders.
- Custom rules engine and granular reporting.
With the right caution, tools, and training, organizations can lock down inboxes against even highly-convincing phishing that evades filters. Staying educated on the evolving email threat landscape is key to keeping your defenses aligned.
Hopefully this guide has demystified the common spoofing tactics used against inboxes and empowered you with protection strategies. Don’t be daunted by ever-craftier phishing attempts – with vigilance and preparation, you can emerge spoof-proof.
Here’s to safe, secure emailing free of spoofing tricks. Your inbox thanks you.
Key Takeaways on Handling and Preventing Spoofed Emails
- Scrutinize sender details – Email spoofing often uses slight variations of legitimate domains and names. Carefully check for accuracy.
- Watch for urgent threats or requests – Spoofed emails typically pressure urgency to bypass critical thinking. Slow down if an email seems demanding.
- Do not click suspicious links/attachments – Even if the sender seems real, clicking unvetted links or attachments risks malware.
- Report phishing attempts – Alert your email provider and relevant organizations to suspicious emails. This strengthens defenses.
- Limit email address exposure – Keep work emails private to make spoofing harder. Avoid public profiles or mailing lists.
- Implement email authentication – Protocols like SPF, DKIM and DMARC validate legitimate emails and detect spoofing.
- Educate staff on phishing – Regular security awareness training ensures personnel can identify and report spoofing attempts.
- Encrypt sensitive communications – Even if accounts are compromised, encryption contained confidential data loss.
- Use advanced protections – Solutions like DoYouMail and Mutant Mail purpose-build features to defeat spoofing.
- Stay vigilant – New spoofing tactics emerge constantly. Keep your organization’s knowledge and defenses current.
Protecting inboxes from increasingly sophisticated spoofing requires layered security – technological defenses, caution with email hygiene, and human threat awareness working in tandem. But with preparation and vigilance, organizations can stay resilient against would-be inbox assailants.
Here are some common FAQs related to handling and preventing spoofed emails:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I tell if an email is spoofed?
A: Warning signs include odd sender addresses, strange links, spelling/grammar mistakes, urgent threats or requests, and unexpected attachments. Carefully inspect sender details without clicking anything.
Q: What should I do if I open a spoofed email attachment?
A: Immediately disconnect your device from any networks and scan it for malware. Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication if credentials may be compromised. Notify your IT team.
Q: How do I prevent my email from being spoofed?
A: Limit public exposure of your email address, implement email authentication protocols like SPF/DKIM/DMARC, use secure email services, maintain updated servers, and train staff to identify phishing.
Q: Is it safe to reply to a spoofed email?
A: No, never reply to suspicious emails as it confirms your address is active. Report the message to your email provider instead.
Q: How can I stop receiving bouncebacks to my inbox from spoofed emails?
A: Unfortunately bouncebacks will continue until the spam campaign ends. All you can do is wait it out and strengthen spam filters to help catch future spoofing attempts.
Q: What is the most common goal of email spoofing attacks?
A: Most often, spoofing aims to deliver malware or steal sensitive information through phishing under the guise of a trusted source. Financial fraud through BEC attacks is also common.
Q: Should I rely on my email provider’s filtering to catch spoofing?
A: Don’t depend solely on built-in filters. Use protocols like SPF/DKIM/DMARC, encryption, staff training, and other layers in a defense-in-depth approach.
Q: How often should I train employees on phishing identification?
A: Conduct brief monthly refresher trainings to keep spoofing techniques top of mind. Update materials regularly to address latest observed threats targeting your industry.
Q: Is mobile email spoofing different than desktop?
A: Risks are higher on mobile as small screens make scrutinizing senders harder. Special care should be taken to validate links before clicking and disabling auto-downloads.