[AusNOG] Tracking Hotmail messages - claim from company this can be done

[ComKal Networks]

Hi Darren,

> I just heard an interview on Neil Mitchell's program with Susan McLean
> (Cyber Safety Solutions), who claims her company tracks Hotmail email
> messages to the source / person.
>  
> I'm surprised someone would say this in the media as it's often near
> impossible to trace free email address messages (unless it's blatently
> obviously who the sending party is).

If it really did go through Hotmails servers then it will have a
"X-Originating-IP" field in it which will contain the IP address
of the webmail/dav/smtp/originater user.

I have seen emails in the past were the X-Originating-IP
contained the IP address of hotmails servers, and Hotmail
stated that there servers were not compromised, so its
really up to the individual as to the trust placed in the
accuracy of the X-Originating-IP field though I would
assume most of the X-Originating-IP IP's are accurate.

Cheers
Ian Manners
ComKal Networks Australia