diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index d77eb2877..9295c81ce 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -3976,7 +3976,12 @@ bool static ProcessMessage(CNode* pfrom, string strCommand, CDataStream& vRecv,
     }
 
 
-    else if (strCommand == "getaddr")
+    // This asymmetric behavior for inbound and outbound connections was introduced
+    // to prevent a fingerprinting attack: an attacker can send specific fake addresses
+    // to users' AddrMan and later request them by sending getaddr messages. 
+    // Making users (which are behind NAT and can only make outgoing connections) ignore 
+    // getaddr message mitigates the attack.
+    else if ((strCommand == "getaddr") && (pfrom->fInbound))
     {
         pfrom->vAddrToSend.clear();
         vector<CAddress> vAddr = addrman.GetAddr();