27th August 2001
Every e-mail message has a header. Contemporary mail managers keep those details tucked away by default; refer to your client's Help file to find out how to view them (if you don't already know). 'Return-Path' is typically the sender's e-mail address; 'Received' outlines the transmission from start to finish; 'Content-Type' tells your e-mail client how to interpret the message; 'X- Priority' flags the message as urgent or not-so-much; 'X-Mailer' passes along the sender's e-mail program name and version; and 'X- Originating-IP' will often give you the primary IP address of the sender. This last one is handy if you believe that someone's spoofing an identity (using a Web mail service like Hotmail). I've surprised many a person because they didn't realize just how much information is being transmitted when they send a simple e-mail message. Oh, and here's one that only Outlook users can take advantage of: X-message-flag. The data it carries shows up when the message window is opened; if you can customize your mail headers, consider adding a "one liner" for the Outlookies. I suggest something along the lines of: "Click here to reformat your boss's hard drive."