Email Security Threats

And Possible Preventions

Email’s incredible popularity also makes it a target for hackers and security threats. Learn more about the most common types of Email security threats, and how to prevent them, in this article.

Despite the fact communication is now easier than ever before, Email remains immensely popular and widely used around the world. Thanks to its ease of use and speed when compared to traditional methods of communication such as letters, it has long been a favorite among personal and business users alike, and this certainly doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.

However, the problem is that email has long been plagued by security threats which have the potential to cause a great amount of damage.

As can be found in we covered in this guide on phishing scams, the average corporation is now forced to spend a whopping $3.6 million on cyberattack prevention. This means that online crime is certainly something to be concerned about.

Read on as we delve deeper into some of the most common email security threats and what you can do to prevent them.

Common Email Security Threats

Ransomware

An unfortunate reality of the digital age is that numerous forms of ransomware are cropping up on an all too regular basis. It can be described as a piece of malicious software that is downloaded onto your computer and then locks down your system until the hacker receives a sum of money from you.

As the name suggests, you are effectively ‘held to ransom’ until the money that the hacker has requested is paid into their account. Ransomware commonly affects individuals who inadvertently come across this type of online scam by downloading an attachment or clicking on a link in an email. But, it’s certainly not uncommon for businesses to experience it too, and it will increasingly become a threat for them in the coming years.

Phishing Scams

Another common security threat that email users face is phishing scams – an online attack that places personal details such as credit card numbers and account credentials directly into the hands of attackers. It does just that by enticing a user to click on a link to a website that appears to be legitimate but is in fact fake.

Phishing scams date back for many years, which may lead some people to believe they are no longer rife. However, they still continue to affect millions of people across the globe. For that reason, you should never enter any personal information without a second thought.

Keyloggers

As you may be able to guess from the name, a keylogger is a piece of software that can find its way onto your system and record any information that you enter via your keyboard. So, this means that any passwords, credit card details, or any other personal information could effectively find its way into the hands of online criminals and potentially allow them to obtain your ID.

Keyloggers are undoubtedly one of the most common threats faced by email users, so you should only consider clicking on a link or opening an attachment if you are absolutely sure you have received the email from a legitimate source.

How to prevent email security threats

You’ll be happy to know that there are several things you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of common email security threats. Firstly, it always pays to be cautious when you receive an email. You can do just that by scrutinizing the subject line and email address. Here, you may find such things as a generic way of addressing the recipient and/or a suspicious-looking email address.

Furthermore, you should always think twice before clicking on a link that is contained in an email. There is every chance that it could direct you to an illegitimate website that has been set up to steal your personal information. Red flags include a lack of a padlock next to the address bar along with spelling and grammatical errors.

So, as you’ll now be aware, there are several steps that you can take in an effort to avoid common email security threats. The main thing to take away is that remaining vigilant is key when it comes to keeping the cybercriminals at bay.

But, if you’d like to take things a step further, it’s always worth having a solid internet security package installed along with a VPN. The combination of each of these tools can help to alert you of potential threats and enhance your online privacy and security in the process.

Conclusion

In spite of the best efforts of cybersecurity experts, email security threats, unfortunately, won’t be disappearing anytime soon. For that reason, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to prevent becoming a victim of email security threats that affect millions of people across the globe year after year.

By following the tips outlined in this article, you’ll be in a far better position when it comes to avoiding the aforementioned security threats and will be able to quickly identify the warning signs before it’s too late.