Could Your Emails Be at a Security Risk?

Millions of people worldwide still prefer emails for official and professional purposes. Emails play a massive role in modern businesses’ marketing strategies. Emails refer to electronic mails, and some of the most popular email service providers on the internet include Gmail, Hotmail/Outlook, and more.

One of the main things you must know when using emails is that they’re at risk if you’re not careful. What does that mean? As businesses rely more on online communication daily, the emphasis on email security will keep increasing. Currently, the email industry is facing numerous security risks such as these!

1. Email Security Loopholes

Usually, email services aren’t fully secured ever. You must always identify misconfigurations in email security based on your provider. It is part of the security and penetration testing process to find loopholes and serious data safety issues. Hackers usually identify the email service vulnerabilities, target them through numerous attacks, and make the emails inaccessible to users.

2. Client-Side Security Invasion

Hackers use an increasing number of channels and methods to attack online users every day. A single click on the wrong link can lead to a whole organization suffering for days or weeks at the hands of the most skilled hackers.

Client-side security invasions through email service providers are quite common. However, the best safety measure against those issues involves training team members and simulation that contains email threats. When team members know what phishing emails look like, they’ll be better at avoiding them.

3. Email Spoofing

Spoofing in email services involves hackers or online attackers posing as a recognizable contact in a user’s contacts. For instance, a hacker might send a fake email with fake authorization pretending to be someone from the team. The intent is to encourage users to open the email and click on malicious links. It’s quite challenging to trace a spoof email’s sender.

4. Phishing and Malicious Emails

Email phishing is another security risk that could endanger your whole organization or business. These senders pose as in-house workforce members trying to procure social security numbers and bank account details from actual employees. They may also try to gain employees’ personal information at a company.

Cybercriminals usually add official business logos, forged signatures, and other elements to make the email appear original and right from the authoritative personnel in an organization. In reality, the emails have a malicious link that takes the users to a temporary website where they enter their personal and banking information.

5. Email Configuration Errors

One of the rising problems in email services is poorly configured service. That leads to users sending and receiving emails before getting proper authentication. For instance, without proper authentication and verification, a cybercriminal might pose as the CEO of a company in their emails.

Conclusion

Use the latest anti-virus to scan and know whether an email is safe to open or not. Opt for a prevention-focused security protocol to ensure secure email delivery and receiving in your business. Train your employees and other workforce members to avoid opening emails from unknown sources. Lastly, select the most suitable email service provider for your business and inform your workforce on how to utilize it properly.