Here’s a README.md file for your delete_phishing_mail Python tool, which identifies and removes phishing emails from an inbox. This README includes an introduction, setup and usage instructions, and emphasizes ethical use.
Python Delete Phishing Mail
A Python-based tool to detect and delete phishing emails from an inbox. This tool helps enhance email security by identifying potentially dangerous emails and removing them to prevent accidental clicks or responses.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes and authorized testing only. It should be used responsibly and with permission on systems you have the right to access.
Features
• Keyword-Based Detection: Scans emails for phishing-related keywords (e.g., “urgent”, “reset password”, “account locked”).
• Suspicious Sender Detection: Flags emails from unverified or unknown senders.
• Automated Deletion: Deletes detected phishing emails or optionally moves them to the junk/spam folder.
• Customizable: Allows you to adjust keyword criteria and add specific senders or domains to a blacklist.
Requirements
• Python 3.x
• IMAP Library: To access email inboxes (e.g., imaplib, which is part of Python’s standard library)
• Email and re Libraries: To parse emails and identify patterns (also included in Python’s standard library)
Setup
1. Clone the Repository:
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/delete_phishing_mail.git
2. Navigate to the Project Directory:
cd delete_phishing_mail
3. Install Dependencies:
If your tool requires any external libraries not included in Python’s standard library, install them:
pip install -r requirements.txt
(Create a requirements.txt file if any additional libraries are required.)
Configuration
1. Set Up Email Access:
• Update the script with your email provider’s IMAP server settings.
• Enter your email credentials securely, or consider using environment variables for storing sensitive information.
2. Customize Detection Criteria:
• Modify phishing-related keywords in the script to improve detection accuracy.
• Add specific domains or email addresses to a blacklist to automatically flag known phishing sources.
Usage
1. Run the Tool:
python delete_phishing_mail.py
2. Follow Prompts:
• The tool will connect to your inbox, scan for emails that match phishing criteria, and display detected messages.
• You will be prompted to confirm if the tool should delete or move each detected email.
Example
Connecting to your email inbox... Scanning for phishing emails...
Detected phishing email from: fraud@example.com Subject: "Important: Verify Your Account Access"
Do you want to delete this email? (y/n): y Email deleted.
Scanning complete.
Important Notes
• Permissions: Only use this tool on email accounts you own or have explicit permission to access. Unauthorized use is illegal.
• Testing: It’s recommended to test this tool on non-critical email accounts first to avoid accidental deletion of legitimate emails.
Project Structure
• delete_phishing_mail.py: Main script to connect to an email account, scan for phishing emails, and delete or move flagged messages.
• config.py (optional): Stores configuration settings like IMAP server details and email credentials securely.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Feel free to fork this repository, add features, and submit a pull request. Ideas for future improvements include enhancing detection algorithms or integrating machine learning for higher accuracy.
Legal Disclaimer
This tool is intended for educational and authorized use only. Unauthorized use on any email account or system is illegal and may violate terms of service. Always use responsibly.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.
Replace yourusername with your GitHub username in the repository URL, and save this content as README.md in your project folder. This README gives an overview of the tool’s setup, usage, and ethical guidelines. Let me know if there’s anything you’d like to add or change!