You probably already have great source material for this lab exercise: simply open your email spam folder and find a likely phishing attack email. Once you have identified a suspected phishing email, you will need to open the headers for the email. If you’re not familiar with the process, most email providers have help available on how to access the headers. It can help to print the headers out for analysis or to import them into your favorite text editor to allow for markup as you track what you have found.Review the headers and identify what clues you can find. Now that you have reviewed the header, you can move on to the body of the email. In this phase, review the content of the message, paying particular attention to common artifacts found in phishing emails. You should look for embedded links and record any deceptive links or embeds. You can also identify typos, poor grammar, and other typical elements of a phishing email. Use one or more automated email header analyzers to review the header from part 1. if you identify additional useful data and what that data is.      (Many sites are available; you can start with or

The objective of this lab exercise is to analyze a suspected phishing email. To do so, you are encouraged to find a likely phishing attack email from your spam folder. Once you have selected a potential phishing email, you will need to open the email headers. If you are unfamiliar with the process, most email providers offer help on how to access the headers. To aid in analysis, you may choose to print the headers or import them into a text editor to allow for markup as you track your findings.

Firstly, analyze the email headers and identify any clues they may provide. The headers contain metadata about the email, such as the sender’s email address, the servers it passed through, and the timestamp of delivery. By examining this information, you can gain insights into the origin and path of the email.

Next, shift your focus to the body of the email. Review its content, paying close attention to common artifacts found in phishing emails. Look for embedded links and carefully note any deceptive links or embeds. It would also be useful to identify any typos, poor grammar, or other typical elements that are often present in phishing emails.

To further enhance your analysis, consider using one or more automated email header analyzers to review the header obtained in the previous step. These tools are available on various websites and can provide additional useful data. For instance, they may identify the IP address of the sender or reveal if the email has been flagged as malicious or suspicious.

By conducting a comprehensive analysis of both the email headers and the email body, you can gather valuable information about the suspected phishing attack. This exercise aims to sharpen your skills in identifying potential threats and understanding the tactics employed by attackers.

Keep in mind that phishing attacks are constantly evolving, and attackers utilize various techniques to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing harmful actions. Therefore, you should consider this lab exercise as an opportunity to develop your analytical abilities in recognizing and assessing the legitimacy of email communications.

It is important to approach this exercise with caution and ensure that you have appropriate security measures in place to minimize any potential risks associated with interacting with phishing emails. Additionally, please note that this lab exercise is for educational purposes only and should not involve engaging with or responding to any phishing emails.

In summary, by examining the email headers, analyzing the content of the email, and utilizing automated header analyzers, you can gain insights into the nature of a suspected phishing email. This lab exercise serves as an opportunity to enhance your understanding of phishing attacks and their characteristics.