Mastering Phishing Email Detection: A Technical Guide to Unmasking Deceptive Messages

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Mastering Phishing Email Detection: A Technical Guide to Unmasking Deceptive Messages

#phishing #email #detection

Abstract: Phishing attacks continue to be a prevalent cybersecurity threat, targeting individuals and organizations alike. This technical article provides a step-by-step guide to identifying phishing emails, utilizing a range of technical verifications including spoof detection, account compromise assessment, source reputation analysis, and domain scrutiny. By following these instructions, readers can enhance their ability to distinguish genuine emails from phishing attempts.

Introduction: Phishing attacks are a type of cyber attack where attackers impersonate legitimate entities to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading malicious attachments. To counter these threats, understanding the technical aspects of phishing emails is crucial. This article aims to equip readers with the skills needed to identify phishing emails through in-depth technical analysis.

Step 1: Examine the Sender’s Email Address: Verify the sender’s email address. Hover your mouse cursor over the sender’s name or email address to reveal the actual address. Check for slight misspellings, unusual characters, or domain variations that may indicate a phishing attempt.

a. Spoofed email address verification:

These are some ways, you can check if it’s not a spoofed email.

But what if it’s sent from an email id that has been hacked?

In order to be safe from this, search for the sender’s email on websites like https://breachdirectory.org/ , https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Step 2: Analyze the Email Headers: Access the email’s headers, which provide technical details about the email’s origin. Look for discrepancies between the “From” field and the actual sending server’s domain. Use online tools or email client features to view and interpret the headers.

Analyzing email headers:

1. Open the Email Headers: Open the email you want to inspect. Most email clients provide an option to view the email headers. This information contains technical details about the email’s origin and route.
2. Access Email Headers: The process to access headers can vary depending on your email client. Here are steps for common email clients:

• Gmail: Open the email, click on the three dots (More options) on the top-right corner of the email, and select “Show original.”
• Outlook: Open the email, click on “More actions” represented by three dots, then select “View message details.”
• Apple Mail: Right-click the email in the mailbox list, select “View” and then “Message” headers.

1. Look for “Received” Entries: In the email headers, look for the “Received” entries. These entries show the path the email took to reach your inbox. The first “Received” entry is typically the originating server that sent the email.
2. Identify Sending Server’s Domain: Find the domain of the sending server from the “Received” entry. Look for the “from” domain, which is typically listed after “by” or “from.”
3. Compare with “From” Field: Compare the sending server’s domain you identified with the domain listed in the “From” field of the email. Ensure they match. If there’s a discrepancy or the domains are completely different, it could be a sign of email spoofing.
4. Check SPF and DKIM Records: To further validate the authenticity of the sender, you can check if the sender’s domain has proper SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records. These records help prevent email spoofing and phishing.
5. Use Online Tools: If you’re uncertain about the headers, you can use online tools to analyze email headers and detect anomalies. Here are some online tools you can use:

• MXToolbox Email Header Analyzer
• Email Header Analyzer by WhatIsMyIPAddress
• dmarcian SPF Surveyor

Step 3: Check for Domain Spoofing: Inspect links in the email. Hover over each link without clicking to view the destination URL. Ensure the displayed URL matches the linked text. Verify that the domain is correctly spelled and does not contain unusual characters or substitutions.

1. VirusTotal
2. https://urlscan.io/
3. Google Safe Browsing
4. https://www.abuseipdb.com/

Step 4: Assess Account Compromise: If the email is from a known contact but seems suspicious, it’s possible their account has been compromised. Reach out to the contact through a different communication channel to verify the legitimacy of the email.

Step 5: Verify the Source Reputation: Search for the sender’s name or email address online. Check their social media profiles, professional websites, and online presence to verify their authenticity and credibility. If the sender claims to be from a reputable organization, independently verify their contact details.

Step 6: Investigate Domain Reputation: Use online tools to assess the reputation of the sender’s domain. Look for historical data on the domain’s involvement in phishing attacks or malicious activities. A poor domain reputation is a strong indicator of a phishing attempt.

Step 7: Scrutinize Email Content: Analyze the email content for poor grammar, spelling errors, and generic greetings. Phishing emails often contain urgent requests, threats, or offers that seem too good to be true. Be cautious of such content.

Step 8: Inspect Attachments: Never open attachments from unknown or unverified sources. If you must open an attachment, scan it with an up-to-date antivirus software before doing so.

Step 9: Be Cautious of Urgent Requests: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency to pressure recipients into taking immediate action. Verify the authenticity of the request through a separate communication channel before proceeding.

Step 10: Educate Yourself Continuously: Stay informed about the latest phishing tactics and techniques. Regularly update your knowledge about cybersecurity best practices to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Do you want to perform all the above automatically?

1. Visit https://app.phishtool.com/submit an upload your downloaded email

2. https://easydmarc.com/tools/phishing-url

3. https://checkphish.ai/

Conclusion: By following these step-by-step instructions and engaging in rigorous technical verifications, individuals and organizations can significantly enhance their ability to identify phishing emails. A combination of email header analysis, domain reputation checks, and content scrutiny will empower users to make informed decisions and protect themselves from falling victim to phishing attacks.

Remember that vigilance, education, and awareness are the keys to effective phishing detection.

Stay Safe!!

I have published the same in my linkedin page as well.