Get an IP Address: Is It Possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of obtaining the IP address from which an email originated. Participants explore methods for accessing this information, particularly through email headers, while considering the reliability and potential for spoofing.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that email headers contain the originating IP address, with specific instructions for accessing this information in email clients like Outlook.
  • One participant warns that the IP address in the headers can be easily spoofed, raising concerns about the reliability of this method.
  • Another participant notes that the ability to verify the authenticity of the IP address depends on the presence of SPF DNS entries, which are optional and require access to the mail servers' records.
  • A participant mentions the use of webmail services, indicating that the method to find the IP address may vary depending on the service used.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that email headers can provide the IP address, but there is significant disagreement regarding the reliability of this information due to the potential for spoofing.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in verifying the authenticity of the IP address due to the optional nature of SPF records and the variability in methods depending on the email service used.

kthouz
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How does one get an IP address from which a mail came from? Is it possible or it just needs some more advenced stuffs?
 
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kthouz said:
How does one get an IP address from which a mail came from? Is it possible or it just needs some more advenced stuffs?

In Outlook, open the message, select the "View" menu, then select "Options". Look at the Internet Headers.

CS
 
stewartcs is correct, if the information is going to be anywhere it's going to be in the message headers. But don't depend on this, it's easily spoofed or faked. If an SMTP server accepts an attacker's relay he can tell it the message came from wherever he wants to and there's no way to verify it. (Well, there's something called an SPF DNS entry which is an anti-spam precaution, but it's optional and anyways you'd need access to the records of every mail server in the delivery chain to confirm it 100%.)
⚛​
 
i am using internet explorer 7
 
If you're using webmail, then the answer to your questions depends on what webmail service you're using. Look through the help for whatever service you have, or look for buttons that say things like "Show Details" or "Show Headers" or "Show Original."

- Warren
 

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