Today, email has become an essential part of our lives. That includes both personal and professional aspects. If we could go back in 1971 and ask Ray Tomlinson (the person who sent the first email), about this dominance, he might not believe us at all. It is no longer just a tool for communication, but a pathway to our digital world.
However, using email also comes with its own set of risks and challenges. Clicking on suspicious links, opening scam emails, or downloading malicious attachments can have devastating effects. These include identity theft, phishing, or malware infecting your devices and systems.
These dangers aren’t just made-up stories; they’re real concerns that can cause real issues, impacting thousands daily. To prevent falling victim to these email-based attacks, we have accumulated 10 comprehensive tips that will help you improve your email security. Let’s get started!
Why Email Protection Matters?
Emails transferred between businesses, partners, colleagues and even among friends and family often contains a wealth of information. The waters in the cyber space are teeming with cyber attackers hungry for your data. They seek out personally identifiable information that can be used in identity theft. Attackers may also manipulate victims into divulging credentials for your corporate accounts, bank accounts or credit card passwords.
So why do cyber attackers target emails?
- In 2024, North Korean Hacker Group Kimsuky launched phishing attacks exploiting weak email authentication policies
- Several organizations do not practice or give importance to email protection
- Federal agencies report that emails are the most prominent medium for cyber attacks like phishing
- Email is one of the most common modes of communication with more than 4 billion users around the world
What can they do once they’re successful?
- Initiate malware and ransomware installations
- Gain access to your bank credentials
- Steal your corporate login credentials
- Manipulate you to transfer money into their accounts
- Use your identity to carry out illegal activities
So, safeguarding your email isn’t just about protecting mere messages; it’s about hoisting the sails and defending the entirety of your digital persona from these marauding cyberciminals.
Best Email Protection Tips for Businesses in 2024
As cyber attacks evolve year after year, so should your email protection strategies. Here are some email protection tips that can help you get started:
1. Setup a Strong Password and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Think of your password as a secret code that only you should know. Avoid easy ones, because hackers love those. Make your secret code tricky with a jumble of big and small letters, numbers, and weird symbols. And steer clear of obvious words or sayings.
Next up, switch on 2FA for your email, which is like adding a special guard to your account. This means to get into your email, you need your secret code plus something only you have, like a magic number sent to your phone. Even if a hacker figures out your secret code, they can’t get in without that magic number.
2. Recognize and Report Phishing Attempts
Phishing emails are like tricky disguises! Here’s how to spot them:
- Check the sender’s email: Look closely at who sent the email. If it’s not from a familiar or official address, be cautious!
- Watch out for mistakes: Real emails usually don’t have silly mistakes. If you spot weird spelling or grammar, it might be a trick!
- Think before you click: It’s important that you make sure the email is sent from a legitimate source by searching it on the web.
- Get email bodyguards: Some email services can help you by spotting fishy emails before you do. Make sure you’ve got these turned on!
3. Use Secure Networks: Beware of Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is handy but usually not safe. When you check your email using public Wi-Fi, hackers on the same network might try to grab your data.
You can use a VPN server if you have any urgent work and it can’t wait. These VPNs can encrypt your data and mask your IP address making it nearly impossible to spy on what someone is doing. However, try to avoid accessing any private information on public networks.
4. Encrypt Sensitive Emails
Encrypting emails is another effective email protection tip. Email encryption helps keep your messages safe from people who might wish to have a piece of your personal information.
When you encrypt an email, it gets turned into a code that only you or the person receiving it will understand. It means only the two of you can unlock it using the key. Even if someone tries to read your email without permission, they won’t be able to decrypt or decipher it.
5. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
Cybersecurity is like a constant competition. Hackers are always creating new ways to attack software. Keeping your email program and computer’s operating system updated helps protect you from these attacks. Turn on automatic updates so your systems are always armed with the latest defenses.
6. Conduct Regular Backups
To protect your data, conduct regular backups. You can do it every week or once a
month. It is essential because unexpected situations can happen to anyone. But, if you do this, you’ll never lose your data even if your account or information is hacked.
7. Utilize Available Cybersecurity Tools
Ensure your device’s built-in antivirus software is activated and configured for email protection. This setup helps scan attachments and monitor unauthorized access attempts.
Additionally, using services like Microsoft 365 enhances your security with advanced tools that thoroughly inspect your emails, identifying and alerting you about suspicious links and attachments. Stay proactive in utilizing these tools to bolster your email security effectively.
8. Think Before You Open
It’s easy to say that don’t open emails from strangers but in business, this is not practical. Instead, carefully check each email from unknown senders. Look at the sender’s name and subject line to gauge legitimacy. If the email seems legitimate, open it, but immediately check who else it was sent to. Spam often targets many with slight variations of email addresses.
Also, be wary of attachments. Only open them if you’re sure about the sender. Double-check the file type; spammers often use misleading names. If an email looks suspicious, contact the sender to ensure it’s actually from them.
9. Educate Yourself
Cybersecurity issues are increasing day by day. It has become absolutely necessary to be aware of everything going around in the digital. If you don’t have time to search every now and then, subscribe to a Cybersecurity newsletter to receive such information on a weekly basis.
Different types of phishing attacks currently occurring include:
- Spear Phishing: This method targets specific individuals rather than mass emailing. It uses personalized information to appear more legitimate and convincing.
- Smishing: This approach uses SMS or text messages as a tool to mislead people into disclosing personal details or installing harmful software.
- Whaling: This strategy focuses on high-ranking targets like company executives, seeking to extract sensitive financial or confidential information through deceptive tactics.
10. Choose a Trusted Email Provider
Not all email providers offer the same level of spam detection. Smaller providers may not have the resources to effectively filter incoming emails. This can leave you more exposed to spam and phishing attacks.
The businesses that use small email providers, should inquire about their email security policies. This ensures you receive necessary communications without important messages being trapped by spam filters.
Taking Your Email Protection to the Next Level with DMARC
Email Protection in 2024 is incomplete without email authentication. Major email service providers like Google and Yahoo have pioneered the movement of enforcing authentication for senders. If you are frequently using emails for marketing and communications, you need to enable DMARC now!
Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance has been setting the bar high for email protection. DMARC prevents phishing, spoofing and email fraud while improving deliverability and reliability of messages. DMARC adoption rates have been on a steady rise in the past few years, with more and more organizations realizing its importance.
However, DMARC enforcement is not easy to manage and may have negative implications on your deliverability. Hence organizations rely on managed services and hosted solutions like our DMARC analyzer. We help organizations adopt strict DMARC policies in a safe and guided environment with expert support.
Final Words
Protecting your email requires more than a one-time setup. To truly safeguard your communications, you must keep updating your security measures. By applying these strategies consistently, you greatly lower the risk of attackers compromising your email.
Every action you take strengthens your security, step by step. Start now and take control of your email security. Be proactive, not just reactive. Your online safety depends on it.
Lastly, if you’re thinking of using a trusted domain security platform, go for PowerDMARC. We help strengthen domains against email fraud and brand impersonation. Our solutions are tailored to fit business needs for organizations of all sizes, and email volumes, Try our free 15-day trial today!
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