Was wondering the same thing. Even tried finding a blog, but looks like it's a pre-drop domain from a previous venture (http://mashable.com/2008/02/01/gimado/)
It does SMTP requests, trying to send mail (and aborting) to check the emails.
It first tries a bogus gqjcqjcbhkjxcg@thedomain.com to see if the server throw an error (and was not config as a catchall), then for Bill Gates, tries :
- billgates@
- gatesbill@
- bgates@
- gatesb@
- bill@
...
- bill.gates@
...
but they don't try bg@thedomain.com
The results also depends of the order of the tests. If you have bill@ that redirects to bill.gates@, as they try bill@ before bill.gates@, it will tell you that bill@ is the address.
Clever, but used by spammers and list makers for years (those who scan whois domain infos and reconstruct the email with your name and the domain).
It's easier to simply google @example.com to find examples of email addresses from the business on the web. 90% of the time that gives you the standard of how they construct the left side of the email address. If that doesn't work a few educated guesses will get you there.
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[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 26.7 ms ] threadbut they don't try bg@thedomain.com
The results also depends of the order of the tests. If you have bill@ that redirects to bill.gates@, as they try bill@ before bill.gates@, it will tell you that bill@ is the address.
Clever, but used by spammers and list makers for years (those who scan whois domain infos and reconstruct the email with your name and the domain).