How do I forward full email headers?

If you report abusive, malicious or otherwise unsolicited email to the University, the IT Security team may request that you forward the email to them with full headers. Each email you receive contains information about where the message came from and which computers it went through on its way to your mailbox. This information, contained in the message's headers, is usually masked from your view. When you display full headers, you're telling your email program to restore this information, which can be used to trace the email back to its source.

These instructions provide assistance in forwarding email with full headers from a variety of email programs.

Most mailers (outlook, OWA, Apple mail, thunderbird)

Try this first, unless you are using Gmail web app:

  • Start a new email message and set the "To" address to the address you want to forward the email to (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Select the offending message and drag it to the open composer where it should appear as an attachment
  • Send the message

Gmail - including University of Auckland student mail

  • Log in to Gmail
  • Open the message you'd like to view headers for
  • Click the three vertical dots " ⋮ " next to reply
  • Select Show original. The Original message will show in a new browser tab
  • Click the "Copy to Clipboard" button to copy the entire message
  • Close the browser tab containing the original message
  • Compose a new email message and add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Paste the copied text into the new message
  • Send the message

Outlook 2010 to current version

  • Double-click on the e-mail message to open it in its own window
  • From the Message tab, locate the group called Respond
  • Click on More, then select Forward as Attachment
  • A new email will open with the original email as an attachment
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message. 

Outlook 2007

  • Highlight the email you want to forward
  • Click on Actions, then select Forward as Attachment (alternatively press Ctrl+Alt+F on the keyboard)
  • A new email will open with the original email as an attachment
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message

Mac OSX Mail

  • Select the message you want the full headers for
  • Click on offending message to select itIn the menu bar click 'View'
  • Click “Message"Go down the list and select 'Message', 'Long Headers'
  • Select ‘forward as attachment'
  • Click on the message to highlight it, and then click on the Forward button
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message

Thunderbird

  • From the menu at top select View > Headers > All
  • Navigate to and highlight the message in question
  • Select the Forward button
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message
  • Once you have successfully forwarded the message with full headers be sure to switch back to 'normal headers by selecting View > Headers > Normal
Note: If you can't see the top menu, click "Alt".

Hotmail

  • Log in to Hotmail
  • Highlight the message you'd like to view headers for
  • Right-click the message in the message list
  • Select View message source
  • Copy the entire content and paste into a new message
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message

Yahoo

  • Log in to Yahoo
  • Highlight the message you'd like to view headers for
  • Right-click the message in the message list
  • Select View Full Headers
  • Copy the entire content and paste into a new message
  • Add the "To" address (e.g. spam@auckland.ac.nz)
  • Send the message