Spoofing
"Spoofing" refers to falsifying or manipulating information in an email header, sender address, domain name, or other attributes to deceive recipients into believing the message is from a legitimate or trusted source when an unauthorized or malicious entity sends it. Spoofing techniques are commonly used in phishing attacks, email scams, and other forms of cybercrime to trick users into disclosing sensitive information, downloading malware, or engaging in fraudulent activities.
Email Header Spoofing: Spoofers alter email headers, such as the "From," "Reply-To," and "Return-Path" fields, to make it appear as though the message originated from a reputable organization or known individual, disguising the true sender's identity and intent.
Domain Spoofing: Spoofers forge or impersonate domain names in email addresses or URLs, making them appear similar to legitimate domains owned by trusted brands, institutions, or government agencies to gain credibility and bypass spam filters or user scrutiny.
IP Address Spoofing: In some cases, spoofers manipulate the source IP address of email messages to conceal their true origin or evade detection by email security mechanisms, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication protocols.
Phishing Attacks: Spoofed emails are often used in phishing attacks, where attackers impersonate banks, e-commerce platforms, social media companies, or other trusted entities to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links, submitting login credentials, or downloading malicious attachments.
Mitigation Strategies: Organizations can mitigate the risks of spoofing by implementing email authentication measures, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to verify the authenticity of email senders, detect spoofed messages, and prevent email-based impersonation attacks.
CEO Fraud: A cybercriminal spoofs the email address of a company's CEO or executive leader to send fraudulent requests to employees, such as requesting wire transfers or sensitive financial information, under the guise of urgent business matters.
Phishing Campaign: An attacker spoofs the domain of a popular online retailer to send fake order confirmation emails to customers containing malicious links or attachments that lead to phishing websites or malware downloads.
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