E-mail spoofing

From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

E-mail spoofing is the practice of making e-mail appear like it came from someone or somewhere else. It is a type of computer hacking, is almost always done in mischievous or malicious intent, and is considered a cybercrime in most locales.

Contents 1 Reasons 1.1 Fraud 1.2 Phishing 1.3 Spam 1.4 Practical Jokes 2 Characteristics 2.1 Email headers 3 Techniques 4 Illegality 5 Defenses 6 References

Reasons

Fraud

Phishing

See main article on phishing.

Spam

Practical Jokes

Sending a friend, who doesn't know how to forge e-mail headers, a message from "George W. Bush" commending him for his effort to strengthen the economy with his beer consumption might be a way to increase the awareness of the non-reliability of the "From:" field.

Characteristics

Email headers

Techniques

Illegality

Defenses

References