Fortunately, when you and your employees know the most common email threats, you can be in a solid position to avoid their impact. Here are some of the most common and damaging email security threats you’ll want to avoid at all costs:
Spam Emails
While enlisting the services of local managed service providers can help you address many security threats, you’ll still likely encounter a few spam emails throughout your years in business. Spam emails or junk mail are unsolicited emails distributed by botnets, often for malicious purposes.At a minimum, repetitive spam emails can result in inboxes being flooded. Mail servers can then struggle to process authentic emails. Fortunately, most businesses are experiencing far fewer spam emails than they used to. They make up 48% of emails today compared with 80% in 2011.
Malware Emails
Malware is software that can damage and disrupt your computer systems. The most common types include worms, viruses, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware. While malware can make its way into computer systems in many ways, delivery via email is the most common.Unsuspecting business owners and employees can open legitimate-looking emails and click on links and files disguised as legitimate. Before long, that malware can infect your computer, spread through your business networks, and disrupt your daily operations.
URL Phishing
When you’re a time-poor business owner or employee, you don’t always check website names to ensure they’re real. However, failure to do so might mean you become a URL phishing victim.URL phishing describes the use of emails to redirect users to fake websites. As they’re developed to look legitimate, many people enter their login credentials and financial information as if they would on an official site. Once entered, your information goes to a cybercriminal, who can then use it to access your information and even your money.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing involves a cybercriminal targeting companies using social engineering techniques. The emails are often personalized to appear legitimate and include legitimate-looking links for unsuspecting victims to click. The aim is to obtain credentials so the cybercriminal can infect the device or network with malware.Spear phishing is now one of the most common cyberattacks, with at least 1.35 million phishing sites detected. Vietnam is the most commonly targeted country.
Scamming
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. However, that’s not to say we aren’t optimistic that something is legitimate. That’s how many people fall victim to scam emails. Cybercriminals often send scam emails with promises of investment opportunities, lottery wins, and even inheritance notifications.When you fall for such scams, you risk having your identity and personal information stolen. Such is the prevalence of these emails that the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice website has an entire page dedicated to educating internet users on what they are and how to identify them as scams.
We can’t trust everything in our inboxes, no matter how legitimate they seem. If your employees know the most common email security threats, like those above, they may be less likely to put your business at risk.
