Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2007 Inside Out

Viewing Full Message Headers

Internet messages include routing information in their headers that specifies the sending address and server, the route the message took to get to you, and other data. In most cases, the header offers more information than you need, particularly if all you’re interested in is the body of the message. However, if you’re trying to troubleshoot a mail problem or identify a sender who is spamming you, the headers can be useful.

Inside Out: Track down spammers

You can’t always assume that the information in a message header is accurate. Spammers often spoof or impersonate another user or server—or relay mail through another server—to hide the true origin of the message. The header helps you identify where the mail came from ...