The email header plays a crucial role in identifying potential security threats, especially in the context of phishing attacks. It contains essential information that helps IT professionals assess the legitimacy of an email. One of the most important security platforms for email protection is Knowbe4, which offers tools for analyzing headers and detecting malicious content.

The email header includes several key components that can be examined to determine the authenticity of an email. These elements are used to trace the email's origin and verify whether it is coming from a trusted source or an impersonator. Below is a list of key components found in an email header:

  • From: Indicates the sender's email address.
  • Subject: Displays the title or subject line of the email.
  • Date: Shows when the email was sent.
  • Received: Provides a trace of the email’s path from the sender to the recipient.
  • DKIM: DomainKeys Identified Mail, a method of validating the sender’s identity.

It is important to carefully analyze each of these components to uncover suspicious activities. Often, fraudulent emails will have discrepancies in these fields that can help flag them as phishing attempts.

Note: Knowbe4's email security training emphasizes the importance of understanding these headers to prevent falling victim to malicious email campaigns.