Recent headlines have been awash with email accounts connected to large corporations, international cabinet ministers, and government agencies being hacked – but how does this happen?
Furthermore, if such high-profile individuals and organisation can be infiltrated by cybercriminals ,what chance does a start-up or an SME have in defending itself?
In the following sections, we’ll explore some of the common questions about email compromise and discuss some of the solutions available, plus the steps you can take to make your accounts as impregnable as possible.
Is your email password strong enough?
The best practice is for IT security professionals to issue passwords to staff rather than letting them select one. Employees may find credentials tricky to remember and choose simple options they’ll never forget. Unfortunately, this makes emails accounts exceptionally easy for hackers to crack.
As well as issuing strong passwords to staff members, these passwords should be updated at regular intervals, as they may have been shared or written down, among other poor security practices.
It may not even be the fault of the user. If their device has become infected by certain malware like a keylogger, when they enter their password, it can be recorded and sent to a malicious operator.
Why is installing updates important to email security?
Updating the software, operating systems and applications you use is critical, as these upgrades often contain security patches for known vulnerabilities. Even protective software like anti-virus and anti-malware must be kept in date to function properly and avoid insidious programs like keyloggers infecting computers.
How can phishing emails be a threat?
While they may seem like poorly written and harmless content, phishing messages can deploy a wide range of damaging malware onto company devices when employees mistakenly click on a link. In some cases, all of the emails content is one big link, making it even easier for staff to slip up. Some malware has the ability to give hackers total control of your email account, allowing them to even send spam from it, pretending to be you.
Phishing emails can also include malicious links that lead users to fake websites that appear authentic. Commonly, these will resemble familiar log-in pages that staff unwittingly enter their passwords and usernames into, offering hackers access to their accounts.
Comprehensive secure email on hand
Galaxkey is well aware of the threats to business email and has developed a secure solution to assist. Our email offering provides enterprise professionals with a secure workspace, meaning they can carry out their role from anywhere at any time.
Powerful encryption ensures that all emails and their attachments remain protected, whether they are sitting in outboxes or outbound servers or being sent to clients and customers. Simple one-click encryption makes our solution easy to use and effective, with no margin for error.
No passwords can ever be stored on our system, which has also been built with zero backdoors that can be exploited. If you would like to experience its capabilities for yourself, contact our expert team today for a free 14-day trial.
