Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) Practice Exam

Email spoofing refers to the technique of forging the sender's address on an email to make it look like it came from a legitimate source. This practice is commonly used in deceptive schemes, where the goal is to trick recipients into believing the email is trustworthy. By manipulating headers and sender details, attackers can create emails that appear to come from banks, service providers, or other familiar and trusted entities. This technique lays the groundwork for various cyber-attacks, including phishing, where the intent is often to obtain sensitive information like passwords or financial details.

While phishing involves a broader range of tactics and specifically seeks to deceive the recipient into sharing confidential information or clicking on malicious links, it typically utilizes email spoofing as part of the approach. Spam refers to unsolicited emails, often sent in bulk, while malware pertains to harmful software designed to cause damage or perform unwanted actions on a system. Each of these terms relates to cybersecurity, but email spoofing is the most accurate description of the practice focused on in this question.