Which part of an email is most useful for determining if the message is spoofed?

Which part of an email is most useful for determining if the message is spoofed?

• A. Header (specifically the sender's domain)
• B. Subject line
• C. Body text
• D. Attachments

Answer: (A)

The part of the message that reveals whether it’s spoofed is the header information, because it carries the evidence of who actually sent the email and whether that sender is authorized to use that domain. In the header you’ll find authentication results and signatures, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which tell you whether the sending server is allowed to send on behalf of the From domain and whether the content and signature match that domain. If SPF or DKIM fail, or DMARC alignment isn’t met, the message is very likely spoofed. While the subject line, body text, or attachments can be crafted to look legitimate, they don’t reliably prove who sent the email, whereas the header’s authentication details do. So, focusing on the header and its authentication results gives the clearest indication of spoofing.

The part of the message that reveals whether it’s spoofed is the header information, because it carries the evidence of who actually sent the email and whether that sender is authorized to use that domain. In the header you’ll find authentication results and signatures, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which tell you whether the sending server is allowed to send on behalf of the From domain and whether the content and signature match that domain. If SPF or DKIM fail, or DMARC alignment isn’t met, the message is very likely spoofed. While the subject line, body text, or attachments can be crafted to look legitimate, they don’t reliably prove who sent the email, whereas the header’s authentication details do. So, focusing on the header and its authentication results gives the clearest indication of spoofing.